Sleminiscences  - 

Mmerica. 
1865-1908. 


3tev.  9ogn  7.  SriffUK,  S>.  9. 


,^-^.>,^...^>.A^-»,.....ini.»T'"'"-"^"«'--"»'-^-"«'  J»T^f<n»l^«v^l^i^<^^>■J»i>JQ 


THE  LIBRARIES 


Bequest  of 

Frederic  Bancroft 

1860-1945 


^^-^,  J^  ^--^-^ 


You7's  sincerely, 

JOHN  T.   GRIFFITHS. 


Reminiscences: 

FORTY-THREE  YEARS  IN  AMERICA, 

From  April,  1865.  to  April.  1908, 

BY 

REV.   JOHN    T.   GRIFFITH,    D.D.. 

(KENFRt  HILL), 

Aiitlioi-  of  "  Morgan  John    Rliys  "    (two    editions)  ;     "  The    I^ii  ly    Welsh 

Baptists  of  Wilks-Barre  and  Scranton,  Pa  '.;     "  Brief  Biographies 

of  Fifty-one    Welsh    Baptist    Ministers    of   Pennsylvania 

and  Ohio,"'  &c.,  &c. 


M  O  R  R  I  S  T  O  N  : 

Printed  by  Jones  &  Sons,  Crown  Printing  Works, 

1Q13. 


;  '.I^.'iLl,  Hi,<iin;s;  reserved.] 


III  the  eaily  part  df  iny  ministry  I  formed  the  habit  of 
g-athering'  and  preservintj  tlie  history  of  the  Churches  I  served 
and  planted.  Many  of  my  fiit'nds  knew  of  this  habit  and  often 
requested  me  to  pui  the  materials  I  had  in  print  so  that  coming 
ages  might  have  them.  Manj-  of  those  friends  with  whom  I 
laboured  have  gone  to  their  reward — and  now  as  an  expression 
of  my  love  to  their  memory  and  for  the  benefit  of  their  descen- 
dants I  have  put  thdse  materials  in  print  and  dedicate  the 
volume  as  a  token  of  Christian  hne  to  all  the  churches  I  had 
the  honour  of  serving  and   planting  in  America. 

JOHN  T.  GRIFFITH. 

KniJ^g-  HilU 

April  j>mi,  njij- 


INDEX 


PAGE. 

My  Early  Days                 ...                 ...  ...  ...           5 

Hyde  Park,  Pa.,  U.S.A....      •            ..  ...  ...           9 

Crozer  Theologflcal  Seminary          ...  ...  ...          12 

Newburg-,  Ohio                 ...                  ..  •■.  .-•          -4 

Sharpsvilte,  Pa.                 ...                  ...  ...  ■■•          28 

Stoneboro       ...                  ...                  ...  ...  .■           33 

Jamestown     ...                 ...                 ...  ..  ...         3^ 

Greenville       ...  ...  ...  ...  43 

Slieakleyville...                                     ...  ..-  •••         4^ 

Sharon — Harmony  and  Scottd.ile  ...  -.         50 

Mahanoy  City  and  Plymouth  Meeting  ■•  ■•          54 

Lansdale         ...                  ...                  .  ...  ...         60 

Reading,  Portland  and  PVeeland,  P.i.  ...  ..           69 

Lansford  and  Summit  Hill                  ...  ...  ..           81 

Jubilee  of  Cold  Point  Church            ...  ...  ...  100 

Johnstown,  Pa.                  .  .                  ...  ..  ...  107 

Edwardsdale  ..                  ...                  ...  ...  ..  114 

SpECL\L  Papers  : — 

The  Relationship  of  the  Early   Baptist   of  Pennsylvania 

to  the  Welsh  Baptists  of  Wales  ...  ...  148 

Religious  Liberty            ...                 ...  ...  ..  165 

Earh-  Religious  Movements  in  Wyoming  \'alley  ...  180 

Christ  in  Hebrews           ...                  ...  ...  ...  194 

Kind  words  from  friends                  ...  ...  ...  202 


CHAPTER  I. 


flD^  learl^  2)a^6. 


As  an  introduction  to  the  reminiscences  of  my  American 
life   a   brief  chapter   on    my    early    days    will    be 
appropriate. 

I  was  born  at  a  place  called  Penmark  in  the  Vale  of 
Glamorgan,  January  ist,  1845.  My  parents'  names  were 
Thomas  and  Lydia  Griffith.  My  father  was  a  native  of 
Saint  Donat's,  Glamorganshire.  I  have  no  knowledge  of 
his  parents  nor  of  the  date  of  his  birth.  My  mother  was 
one  of  thirteen  children  all  of  whom  were  born  in  the  same 
house  at  Llanffa,  St.  Bride's  Parish,  Glamorganshire.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  David  and  Lydia  Nicholas.  When  I  was 
yet  an  infant  my  parents  moved  to  Merthyr  Tydfil,  where 
my  dear  mother  died  in  March,  1849,  at  the  early  age  of  27 
years,  and  was  buried  at  Pisgah,  Pyle.  After  mother's 
death,  as  I  was  the  only  child  living,  my  grand-parents, 
David  and  Lydia  Nicholas  took  me  to  raise  me,  who  then 
lived  at  Kenfig  Hill,  having  moved  there  from  Llanffa — 
and  father  remained  at  Merthyr.  It  was  thus  in  childhood  life 
I  was  brought  to  Kenfig  Hill.  In  the  early  part  of  i860 
my  father  after  several  months  of  illness  died  at  grand- 
mother's home  at  Kenfig  Hill,  and  was  buried  in  the  same 
grave  with  my  mother  at  Pisgah.  Thus  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  I  was  left  alone  without  father,  mother,  brother  or 
sister.  My  grandparents  were  devoted  Christians,  and  they 
and  Aunt  Mary,  the  youngest  child,  were  faithful  attendants 
at  Pisgah,  hence  they  saw  that  I  attended  also,  and  thus 
Pisgah  became  my  mother  church,  and  this  leads  me 
naturally  to  note  a  few  facts  respecting  my  mother  church. 


6  REMINISCENXES — AMERICA. 

The  Date  of  its  Origin  : — As  early  as  1810  the  late 
Rev.  D.  Thomas,  Pastor  of  the  Welsh  Baptist  Church, 
Aberavon,  preached  here  at  the  home  of  Jenkin  Williams, 
known  as  "  Siencyn  y  Tiler." 

In  1835  the  late  Rev.  J.  James  of  Ruhamah,  Bridgend, 
established  a  Mission  here,  and  preached  in  private  houses — 
such  as  Caegarw,  occupied  by  Mr.  Hopkin,  Twyn,  near 
Kenfig,  which  was  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  and 
also  at  the  home  of  Mr.  J.  Howells. 

Christmas  Day,  1835,  the  first  meeting  house  was  dedi- 
cated when  the  Baptists  of  Pyle  had  their  first  permanent 
home. 

Christmas  Day,  1839,  the  Mission  was  organised  as  an 
Independent  Baptist  Church.  Cliristmas  Day,  1857,  the 
second  meeting  house  was  dedicatpd.---  The  first  pastor  I 
remember  at  Pisgah  was  the  Rev.  Richard  Brown  Mr. 
Brown  was  schoolmaster  as  well  as  pastor.  He  had  charge 
of  the  day  school  in  the  old  engine  house  near  the  home  of 
Mr.  Benjamin  Daniel,  the  manager  of  Pyle  pit.  This  was 
known  as  the  Bryndu  school — supported  by  the  work- 
men's money,  and  thoroughly  non -sectarian,  and  was  the 
mother  really  of  the  present  Bryndu  school  at  Kenfig  Hill 
which  was  built  in  1859,  and  which  also  should  be  tho- 
roughly nonsectarian.  The  old  engine  house  was  the  only 
school  house  on  Kenfig  Hill,  when  I  was  a  boy,  and  it  was 
here  I  had  the  privilege  of  starting  my  school  life  under 
Mr.  Brown.  If  space  permitted  it  would  be  very  interes- 
ting to  follow  the  hist(n-y  of  a  large  number  who  reached 
positions  of  great  usefulness  and  honour,  who  had  their 
start  in  this  old  engine  house  under  Mr.  Brown  and  others. 
I  personally  know  of  several  in  America.  Mr.  Brown  was  a 
native  of  Llanidloes,  North  Wales,  where  he  was  born  Dec. 
nth,  1814,  and  baptised  in  Sept.,  1830,  and  began  to  preach 
in  1836.  He  v^^as  ordained  at  Portmadock,  Sept.  23,  1843. 
He  went  from  Pyle  to  Pentyrch  where  he  died  March  8,  1855, 
at  the  early  age  of  38  years,  and  was  buried  there.  I  re- 
member that  he  gave  his  pupils  a  holiday  and  took  them 
all  to  Pyle  station  to  see  the  first  train  coming  through 
Pyle  on  the  G.W.R.     It  is  pleasant  to  think  of  those  days. 

*For  details  respecting  the  iirst  two  chapels  of  Pisgah  see  my  acticle  in 
the  little  book  published  in  connection  with  the  Dedication  of  the  third 
chapel  of  Pisgah. — j.t.g. 


reminiscences — america.  7 

Rev.  John  Roberts  (Roberts  Fawr.) 

The-second  pastor  I  remember  at  Pisgah  was  the  Rev. 
John  Roberts  (Roberts  Fawr).  He  came  here  from  Taber- 
nacle, Merthyr.  Before  he  took  charge  of  Pisgah,  he  kept 
school  at  Cefn  Cribwr.  After  he  became  pastor  here  the 
old  chapel  became  too  small  so  that  it  had  to  be  taken  down 
and  the  second  one  built  in  1857,  Whilst  the  present  meet- 
ing house  was  being  built  the  church  held  its  Sunday  ser- 
vices in  the  barn  of  the  Garth  farm  near  by.  The  name  of 
Rev.  John  Roberts  is  very  dear  to  me,  because  he  was  the 
one  who  baptised  me  at  Pisgah,  May  20th,  1859.  Several 
were  baptised  that  day,  and  among  them  my  old  friend  Mr. 
Anthony  Williams,  (the  late  Rev.  Anthony  Williams),  Nebo, 
Ystrad,  where  he  was  an  honoured  and  successful  pastor 
for  more  than  30  years.  He  died  Feb.  12,  1913.  Roberts 
was  a  native  of  Glannefydd,  North  Wales,  where  he  was 
born  in  1807.  He  was  ordained  at  Llanrwst,  North  Wales, 
Feb.  II,  1829.  He  went  from  Pisgah  to  Brynmawr,  and 
from  Brynmawr  to  Minersville,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
died  March  3rd,  1863,  aged  56  years.  He  was  the  most 
eloquent  Welsh  Baptist  preacher  of  his  day.  Before  I  went 
down  into  the  baptistery  I  declaimed  the  following  lines — 

"  Fel  hyn  y  dywedodd  ef, 

Mae'n  rhaid  bedyddio. 
Mae'n  ddrych  o  gladdu'n  Duw, 
Ac  O,  inor  weddus  yw 

Ymostwng  iddo. 
Mi  af  iV  dyfrllyd  fedd 

O  fodd  fy  nghalon, 
Lie  claddwyd  Brenin  Xef, 
•  A'i  Apostolion. 

Rho'f  her  i  wawdwyr  byd, 
A'u  hoU  gynlluniau  i  gyd, 
Mi  roes  fy  serch  a'm  bryd, 

Ar  lesu  tirion." 

I  found  this  in  the  "  Little  Teacher."  Those  were  happy 
days  in  the  history  of  the  church.  I  can't  begin  to  record 
the  names  of  many  dear  old  companions,  as  space  will  not 
permit. 

Rev.  John  Jones  (Mathetes). 

My  third  pastor  at  Pisgah  was  the  well  known  Rev.  John 
Jones  (Mathetes),  Mr.  Jones  was  a  great  teacher  as  well  as 
a  great  preacher,  and  fearless  in  his   loyalty  to   his  convic- 


8  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

tions  of  truth.  Mr.  Jones  was  the  one  who  first  called  my 
attention  to  the  ministry,  and  encouraged  me  to  preach. 
The  name  and  memory  of  Mr.  Jones  is  very  dear  to  me.  He 
went  from  Pisgah  to  Penuel,  Rhymney,  and  from  Rhymney 
to  Briton  Ferry,  where  he  died  Nov.  i8,  1878,  and  was 
buried  at  Pant  Cemetery,  Dowlais,  highly  honoured  and 
deeply  lamented.  He  was  a  great  man,  and  his  "  Diction- 
ary of  the  Bible "  will  be  a  lasting  monument,  and  will 
keep  his  name  in  honour  throughout  the  ages. 

From  the  year  1854  to  the  beginning  of  1858,  1  was  at 
Merthyr  Tydfil  with  my  father,  wiio  had  remained  there 
after  the  death  of  my  mother — but  in  the  beginning  of  1858 
I  returned  to  Kenfig  Hill  to  my  grandmother  who  was  now 
a  widow,  grandfather  having  died  the  year  before.  I 
worked  in  Pyle  pit  and  other  places  until  1862,  when  1  left 
Kenfig  Hill  for  Mountain  Ash,  to  go  to  my  uncle  and  aunt 
George  and  Cecil  Price. 

1  now  transferred  my  membership  from  Pisgah,  Pyle,  to 
Riios,  Mountain  Ash,  The  late  Rev.  W.  Williams  was  the 
pastor  of  Rhos  then,  an  excellent  man  and  an  able  preacher. 
I  soon  found  congenial  friends  in  the  church  and  Sunday 
School,  among  them  Mr.  R.  Richards,  now  (1913)  Rev.  R. 
Richards,  Leeds  ;  Mr.  B.  Evans  (the  late  Rev.  B.  Evans 
"  Telynfab,"  Gadlysj;  Mr.  W.  Thomas,  now  the  well  known 
Prof.  Wm.  Thomas,  Treorchy,  conductor  of  the  world  re- 
nowned Royal  Male  Party,  and  several  others.  Soon  after 
my  settlement  at  Rhos  I  began  to  preach  in  the  society  (y 
gyfeillach),  and  continued  to  do  so  at  different  times  for 
about  two  years.  January  21,  1865,  I  was  united  in  holy 
matrimony  to  Mrs.  Catherine  Thomas,  of  Mountain  Ash,  at 
Aberdare. 

March  27,  1865,  we  left  Mountain  Ash  for  America,  and 
sailed  from  Liverpool,  March  29,  in  the  S.S.  City  of  Edin- 
burgh, and  landed  in  New  York,  April  14,  1865. 

I  am  glad  to  say  that  we  left  Wales  with  the  best  wishes 
of  hundreds  of  dear  friends. 


CHAPTER  II. 


1b^^e  pm%  pcnne^lvania. 


HYDE  Park  was  then  a  separate  borough  but  it  is  now 
West  Scranton.  I  had  an  uncle  and  aunt  living  at 
Hyde  Park  then,  Jenkin  Nicholas  and  Mrs  Mary  Jones, 
brother  and  sister  of  my  mother.  At  that  time  the  late  Rev. 
John  P.  Harris  (leuan  Ddu),  was  the  pastor  of  the  first 
Welsh  Baptist  Church  of  Hyde  Park.  I  found  in  him  a  true 
Christian  friend,  and  when  he  found  that  I  had  begun  to 
preach  in  Wales  as  stated  in  my  letter  from  Rhos,  Mountain 
Ash,  he  gave  me  all  encouragement  to  go  on.  The  Welsh 
Baptist  Church  of  Hyde  Park  had  no  meeting  house  then. 
They  held  their  Sunday  Services  in  Fellows  Hall,  and  their 
week  evenmg  services  at  the  homes  of  the  members. 

I'he  week  after  I  arrived  at  Hyde  Park,  which  was  the 
last  week  in  April,  1865,  the  prayer  meeting  was  held  at  the 
home  of  Mr.  William  Williams,  at  the  upper  end  of  Hyde 
Park,  at  which  I  preached  my  first  trial  sermon  in  America, 
from  Lamentations  iv.  2.  All  the  attendants  at  that  meet- 
ing were  strangers  to  me  except  my  old  friend,  Thomas  H. 
Price,  who  had  come  with  us  from  Mountain  Ash  ;  but 
though  they  were  strangers  they  were  exceedingly  kind  and 
sympathetic,  and  decided  at  once  that  I  should  from  that 
time  on  preach  in  public  wherever  and  whenever  the  call 
would  come.  So  I  date  my  public  preaching  from  April, 
1865.  Mr.  Harris  did  not  remain  with  us  long  after  this 
before  he  removed  to  Freedom,  Cattaraugus  County,  New- 
York.  I  was  very  sorry  to  part  with  him  for  I  had  found  in 
him  a  true  friend.  In  the  autumn  of  1866  the  Rev.  Fred 
Evans  (Eduyfed),  came  from  Llangynidr,  Wales,  to 
America,   and   received  a   unanimous  call   to   Hyde   Park. 


lO  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

We  were  all  greatly  pleased  to  have  him  for  he  was  a  very 
genial  man,  and  an  excellent  preacher  well  liked  by  all.  I 
found  in  him  also  a  genuine  friend,  and  one  who  was 
always  ready  to  help.  I  worked  in  the  mines  in  the  week 
and  preached  almost  every  Sunday  at  different  places.  I 
had  plenty  of  opportunities  to  preach.  A  little  more  than 
a  year  before  I  went  to  Hyde  Park,  what  is  known  as  the 
West  Market  Street  Baptist  Church,  Scranton,  had  been  or- 
ganised, and  was  then  known  as  the  Welsh  Baptist  Church 
of  Providence.  Welsh  Baptist  preaching  had  been  carried 
on  here  for  years,  but  the  Church  was  not  organized  before 
1864.  This  was  done  in  February,  1864,  in  Panooka  Hall 
with  32  members.  The  Revs.  John  P.  Harris,  Benjamin 
Bowen,  A.  J.  Morton  and  P.  L.  Davies  preached  on  the  oc- 
casion. Previous  to  this  it  was  a  branch  of  the  Welsh 
Baptist  Church  of  Hyde  Park.  Their  Sunday  meetings 
were  held  at  the  Notch  Schoolhouse,  and  the  week  evening 
Society  at  Mrs.  Gwyn's  home.  As  they  depended  on 
supplies  it  was  my  privilege  to  supply  them,  with  others  for 
nearly  two  years.  The  meetings  continued  at  the  Notch 
until  the  Dedication  of  their  meeting  house  which  occurred 
in  November,  1866,  when  the  Revs.  Benjamin  Bowen,  D. 
Evans,  Trelech  (Cong.,)  Dr.  Isaac  Bevan,  and  John  T. 
Griffiths  preached.  In  1867  the  Rev.  John  Evans,  brother 
of  the  Rev.  Fred  Evans,  D.D.,  came  to  them  from  Talybont, 
Cardiganshire,  and  became  their  first  pastor.  I  found  the 
people  very  kind.  For  an  interesting  article  on  the  history 
of  this  church,  see  "  The  Dawn  "  for  January,  1895.  I 
preached  also  at  the  school-house  at  Taylor,  before  the 
church  was  organised,  and  at  Plymouth,  and  Wilks-Barre 
and  Parsons  and  other  places — all  Mission  work.  All  these 
places  now  have  strong  churches.  Shortly  after  I  began  to 
preach  the  late  Rev.  Charles  Jones,  M.A.  began  to  preach. 
He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  my  house  from  the  text — 
^'  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also."     John  14.  19. 

I  continued  in  Hyde  Park  until  January,  i858,  when 
Divine  Providence  opened  the  way  for  me  to  go  to  Lewis- 
burg  to  enter  upon  a  preparatory  course  for  the  ministry. 
For  the  encouragements  I  received  during  the  first  three 
years  in  America  I  feel  greatly  indebted  to  the  First  Welsh 
Baptist  Church  of  Hyde  Park  then — now  Scranton — and  to 
my  last  two  pastors,  viz. — the  late  Revs.  John  P.  Harris 
and  Fred  Evans,  D.D.  For  a  complete  history  of  the 
Welsh  Baptist  Church — see  my  w^ork  on  "  The  Early  Welsh 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  II 

Baptists  of  Wilks-Barre  and  Scranton,"  and  for  sketches  of 
the  livfes  of  the  Revs.  Harris  and  Evans,  13. D.,  see  my 
"  Brief  Biographical  Sketches  of  Welsh  Baptist  Ministers." 

The  First  Welsh  Baptist  Church  of  Scranton  can  never 
be  forgotten  by  me. 

I  spent  one  year  at  Lewisburg,  and  have  very  happy 
recollections  both  of  the  professors  and  students.  The  late 
Dr.  Loomis  was  the  president  then,  a  noble  man  ;  and  the 
home  of  the  late  Rev.  Charles  Jones  was  the  headquarters 
of  the  Welsh  students.  Mr.  Jones  was  there  a  student 
himself,  and  kept  house  there  with  his  wife  and  daughters. 


^?)"r 


CHAPTER  III. 


Croscr  ^beolootcal  Seminary 


CROZER  Theological  Seminary  is  situated  on  a  rising 
ground  between  Chester  and  Upland,  about  fourteen 
miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  which  overlooks 
the  beautiful  Delaware  river,  and  other  charming  scenes. 
This  institution  was  established  by  the  family  of  Mr.  John  P. 
Crozer  in  honour  to  his  memory  and  hence  very  properly 
named  the  Crozer  Theological  Seminary.  Its  first  faculty 
consisted  of  the  Rev.  H.  G.  Weston,  D.D.,  L.L.D.,  President; 
Rev.  G.  D.  B.  Pepper,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Systematic  Theo- 
logy ;  land  the  Rev.  Howard  Osgood,  D.D.,  Professor  of 
Hebrew  and  Church  History.  With  this  equipment  of 
Instructors  the  Seminary  opened  its  doors  to  students  in 
September,  1868.  The  first  students  who  entered  this 
Institution  at  its  opening  were  W.  R.  Wright,  John 
Thomas  Grififith,  Leroy  Stephens,  C.  E.  Harden,  William 
Barrows,  James  Sexton  James,  H.  H.  Leamy,  Harvey 
Linsey,  F.  J.  Rebbeck  and  W.  H.  EUer.  Others  came  in 
later  but  the  above  ten  were  the  first  students  of  Crozer 
Seminary,  as  far  as  I  can  remember.  All  arrangements  had 
been  made  to  give  the  students  the  most  cordial  welcome 
by  the  faculty  and  the  Crozers.  The  students'  rooms  at  the 
seminary  had  been  furnished  by  different  families  and 
churches.  The  rooms  that  fell  to  my  lot  had  been  fur- 
nished by  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  West  Philadelphia, 
of  which  the  late  Rev.  J.  H.  Castle,  D.D.,  was  pastor  then. 
I  found  Dr.  Castle  and  his  church  very  kind  to  me  for 
which  I  still  feel  very  grateful.  We  all  entered  upon  our 
work  in  earnest  and  found  it  pleasant  as  we  advanced  in 
our  different  studies.  Space  will  not  permit  details. 
Among  others  who  manifested  great  interest  in  the  students 
was  the  late   Rev.  J.   M.   Pendleton,   D.D.,   who  was  then 


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REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I3 

pastor  of  the  Upland  Baptist  Church.  He  and  his  noble 
wife  frequently  attended  our  recitations.  During  the 
winter  we  had  lectures  from  the  Rev.  Van-De-Meter,  Rev. 
J.  Wheaton  Smith,  D.D.,  Rev.  G.  D.  Boardman,  D.D.,  and 
others  whose  names  I  have  now  forgotten. 

In  addition  to  our  studies  we  were  encouraged  to  do 
Missionary  work  in  adjoining  neighbourhoods,  and  I  know 
of  at  least  one  Cliurch  that  grew  from  the  Missionary 
labours  of  the  first  year's  students  namely,  what  is 
known  as  North  Chester,  there  may  be  others.  The 
writer  had  the  privilege  of  preaching  the  first  Baptist 
sermon  that  gave  start  to  the  North  Chester  Mission. 

At  that  time  Dr.  Weston  had  charge  of  the  Ridley  Park 
Baptist  Church  as  a  pastoral  supply,  hence  early  in  the 
part  of  the  year  1869  he  came  to  my  room  on  a  Saturday 
morning  and  told  me  that  he  wanted  me  to  preach  for  him 
the  following  Sunday  morning,  but  as  I  had  never  preached 
in  English  1  told  him  that  I  could  not  venture  to  do  so,  but 
he  finally  prevailed  on  me  to  comply  with  his  wish,  hence 
Sunday  morning  1  went  with  him  in  his  carriage  U)  Ridley 
Park,  and  preached  from  Joshua  24.  15.:  "  But  as  for  me 
and  my  house,  we  will  serve  the  Lord." 

As  we  were  returning  home  from  the  service  he  spoke 
encouragingly  to  me  respecting  my  first  attempt  to  preach 
in  English  and  said  that  he  was  very  anxious  to  start  me  in 
English  preaching,  and  after  that  I  was  frequently  sent  to 
preach  to  different  English  churches,  and  for  more  than 
forty  years  Dr.  Weston  was  like  a  father  to  me,  and  his 
kindness  to  me  can  never  be  forgotten. 

As  I  have  the  notes  of  my  first  English  sermon  1  en, body 
them  with  my  recollections  of  the  first  year  at  Crozer. 


THE  GODLY  MAN'S  DETERMINATION. 

"  But  as  for  me  and  my  house  we  will  serve  the  Lord." 
Joshua  24  :  15. 

Men  of  strong  determination  have  attained  honorable 
positions  in  life,  and  have  wrought  wonderful  things  in  the 
world. 

Some  men  undertake  many  things,  but  overtake  nothing. 
Not  so  men  of  the  disposition  referred  to  in  the  text.     Such 


14  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

was  the  character  of  Joshua.  We  have  an  evidence  of  this 
in  this  chapter  and  in  this  text.  He  was  now  in  the  Valley 
of  ihecheni  surrounded  by  the  Jews  whom  he  had  called  to- 
gether in  that  valley,  and  to  whom  he  delivered  the  beautiful 
historical  address  recorded  in  this  chapter  in  which  he  shows 
how  God  had  led  them  from  the  days  of  Abraham  up  to  his 
time,  and  how  they  should  serve  him  in  view  of  these  facts. 
"  Now  therefore  fear  the  Lord  and  serve  him,"  etc.,  (ver.  14.) 
The  same  argument  may  be  used  in  relation  to  our  con- 
dition. God  has  done  great  things  for  us,  hence  we  should 
serve  him.  After  having  addressed  them  and  exhorted  them, 
he  expressed  his  own  feelings  and  resolutions.  "  But  as  for 
me  and  my  house  we  will  serve  the  Lord." 

The  subject  that  I  wish  to  discuss  briefly  is  the  godly 
man's  determination. 

1st.  riiat  the  godly  man's  determination  is  intelligent  in 
its  foundation. 

It  is  based  upon  a  proper  knowledge  of  God  and  his  claims. 
This  was  the  foundation  of  Joshua's  determination.  He 
declared  his  knowledge  of  him  in  this  chapter.  He  had  a 
perfect  knowledge  of  him  as  far  as  he  had  revealed  himself 
to  man,  hence  he  said  ''  I  will  serve  the  Lord." 

All  nations  acknowledge  the  existence  of  a  supreme  God, 
whom  they  should  worship,  but  all  nations  have  not  the 
knowledge  of  this  God.  "  There  is  in  the  nature  of  man,  or 
in  the  circumstances  in  which  he  is  placed,  something  that 
prompts  him  to  recognize  and  serve  the  Supreme  Ruler. 
What  that  something  is,  wliether  it  is  a  natural  instinct  in 
human  nature,  or  the  effect  of  tradition  coming  down  from 
generation  to  generation,  whether  it  is  one  of  these  or  not 
the  fact  is  the  same,  he  must  worship  some  object,  and  see- 
ing this  tendency  in  human  nature,  some  have  called  him 
"a  religious  animal."  But  the  majority  of  the  human  race 
are  ignorant  of  God,  therefore  they  cannot  worship  him,  but 
the  true  worshipper  knows  him  ;  hence  worships  him.  This 
shows  that  the  godly  man  makes  the  proper  use  of  his  know- 
ledge of  God.  Thousands  of  ungodly  men  have  this 
knowledge  who  do  not  use  it  properly. 

2nd.  That  the  godly  man's  determination  is  practically 
illustrated  in  life. 

He  serves  God.     After  having  known  what  the  character 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I5 

and  claims  (jf  God  are,  he  then  acts  accordingly.  The  first 
question  of  a  sincere  inquirer  is  :  "  Lord,  what  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do  ?"  And  his  entire  life  proves  the  sincerity  of 
his  inquiry.  His  powers,  wealth  and  influence  are  all  used 
ioT  God  ;  he  can  say  as  Jesus  said,  that  his  "  meat  and  drink 
is  to  do  the  will  o    God." 

3rd.  That  the  godly  mans  determination  is  formed  indepen- 
dent of  the  conduct  of  others. 

"  But  as  for  me,"  etc.  Some  men  are  governed  entirely 
by  the  voice  of  public  opinion.  Even  though  a  question 
may  be  settled  by  the  majority,  it  is  not  always  an  evidence 
of  its  correctness.  The  majority  were  opposed  to  the  young 
men  in  Babylon,  yet  in  the  end  the  majority  had  to  yield  to 
their  decision.  They  could  stand  in  the  face  of  the  multi- 
tude and  the  king  and  say,  "  We  care  not  to  answer  thee  in 
this  thing."  The  majority  were  opposed  to  Peter  and  John 
yet  thev  could  say,  "  We  cannot  but  speak  the  things  which 
we  have  seen  and  heard."  This  principle  of  independence 
shown  bv  Joshua  in  Shecheni  is  the  true  principle  in  the 
choice  of  religion.  If  men  were  asked  why  they  belong  to 
this  denoiJiinatiou  or  that  denomination,  the  only  reason 
they  could  give,  would  be  that  they  had  been  compelled 
either  by  their  parents  or  somebody  else.  The  right  and 
privilege  of  private  judgment  and  tiie  choice  (^f  religion  and 
the  jov  to  a  believer  of  ol^edience  to  baptism  has  been  taken 
from  them  by  infant  sprinkling. 

"  Everyone  of  us  shall  give  account  of  himself  to  God," 
hence,  everv  one  must  make  liis  own  choice. 

4th.  That  the  qodiv  man  is  constant  and  consistent  in  his 
life. 

"  But  as  for  me  and  my  house."  .A.  man  may  appear  well 
in  the  church  and  in  public,  but  act  entirely  different  in  his 
private  life.  But  Joshua  was  not  simply  a  godly  man  in 
appearance,  but  he  was  sfi  in  reality.  As  Mattheu-  Henry 
says:  "Joshua  was  a  ruler,  a  judge  in  Israel,  yet  he  will 
not  make  his  necessarv  application  to  public  affairs  an  ex- 
cuse for  the  neglect  of  family  religion.  ■•■  •■■  ■■■  Though 
all  the  families  of  Israel  should  revolt  from  God  and  serve 
idols,  yet  Joshua  and  his  family  will  steadfastly  adhere  to 
the  God  of  Israel." 

This  is  one  of  the  great  needs  of  our  country  and  churches 
to-day,  the  purification  of  our  houses  by  the  lives  of  such 
men  as  Joshua. 


l6  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

May  we  all  have  the  courage  to  see  and  do  as  Joshua  did. 
"  But  as  for  me  and  my  house  we  will  serve  the  Lord." 


I  stated  above  that  after  I  had  preached  my  first  English 
sermon  I  was  frequently  sent  out  to  preach.  One  of  the 
first  places  I  was  sent  to  was  Roxborough,  and  as  the  visit 
was  productive  of  historic  results  I  wish  to  make  note  of  it. 
This  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1869  : 

j\fter  having  arrived  there  on  Saturday  afternoon,  I  called 
at  the  home  of  the  pastor — the  Rev.  D.  Spencer,  D.D.  (Dr. 
Spencer  of  Lehigh  Ave.,  now.)  After  a  brief  conversation 
he  told  me  that  he  wanted  me  to  go  with  him  to  see  an 
aged  godly  Welsh  woman  who  was  a  member  of  his 
church  and  who  was  very  much  interested  in  the  Welsh. 
In  accordance  with  his  wish  I  went  with  him  and  we  soon 
reached  her  home,  where  we  received  a  very  cc^rdial  wel- 
come. She  was  not  able  to  speak  Welsh,  but  was  very  fond 
of  the  Welsh  language,  hence  she  asked  me  to  read  her  a 
chapter  in  Welsh  from  her  father's  Welsh  Bible.  I  read  the 
14th  chapter  of  John,  then  she  wanted  me  to  sing  a  Welsh 
hymn,  and  to  pray  in  Welsh,  and  I  complied  with  her  wish. 
Certainly  I  can  never  forget  that  visit  with  Dr.  Spencer  to 
that  dear  aged  sister  Mrs.  Boyle,  because  I  found  that  I  had 
read  from  the  old  Welsh  Bible  of  the  famous  Rev.  Richard 
Michael  of  Anglesey,  which  was  a  copy  of  what  is  known 
as  Peter  Williams'  Bible  (first  edition) — and  that  in  the 
home  of  one  of  his  children.  I  have  often  wished  that  had 
1  the  experience  then  that  I  have  acquired  since,  I  could 
have  had  a  very  interesting  historical  chapter  from  Mrs. 
Boyle.  I  preached  at  Roxborough  on  Sunday  and  returned 
to  the  Seminary  on  Monday  after  a  very  memorable  and 
pleasant  visit.  I  never  saw  Mrs.  Boyle  after  that  visit,  but 
it  is  evident  that  she  did  not  forget  my  only  visit  to  her 
home,  for  after  her  death  the  old  Welsh  Bible  from  which 
I  had  read  was  sent  to  me  with  the  following  note  in  it — 

"  This  Bible  was  the  property  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Boyle, 
born  in  Wales,  and  died  in  Philadelphia  June  28,  1874,  aged 
94  years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Roxborough  f^aptist 
Church,  and  bequeathed  the  Bible  to  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffiths, 
who  preached  one  Sunday  in  said  church." 

(signed)  David  Spencep, 

Pastor,  Roxborough. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I7 

(It  seems  that  Dr.  Spencer  forgot  to  put  the  date  to  his 
note.) 

Thus  the  old  Welsh  Bible  of  the  celebrated  Richard 
Michael  came  into  my  possession.  It  contains  the  follow- 
ing record — 

"  Richard  Michael  died  and  was  buried  at  Wilmington, 
Delaware.  Buried  in  Wilmington  Baptist  Meeting  House 
Burying  Ground.  Elizabeth  Michael  died  in  Roxborough. 
Buried  in  Baptist  Burying  Ground,  1832.  Born  as  follows: 
Richard,  1744;  Elizabeth,  1743;  Ann,  1764;  Margrad, 
1769  ;  Jane,  1777  ;  Mary,   1781." 

The  first  two  names  are  doubtless  those  of  the  Rev. 
Richard  Michael  and  his  wife.  The  history  of  the  Rev. 
Richard  Michael  is  very  interesting  :  — 

"  He  was  a  son  of  Michael  of  Maerdre,  Langefni,  Anglesey, 
and  a  miller  by  trade.  He  was  born  in  1744  and  began  to 
preach  with  the  Methodists.  He  was  baptised  at  Rhyd- 
goch,  Lanfaethlu  parish,  Sept.  17,  1780,  by  the  Rev. 
Timothy  Thomas,  Aberduar.  He  was  ordained  at  Beau- 
maris, the  principal  town  of  Anglesey  October,  1786,  and 
more  of  his  work  may  be  seen  in  Anglesey  and  other  parts 
of  North  Wales  than  of  any  other  minister  of  his  genera- 
tion. But  in  1801  when  he  was  57  years  old,  and  having 
spent  his  life  in  hard  work,  and  after  having  suffered  much 
poverty  and  opposition,  Richard  Michael  emigrated  to  Am- 
erica, and  with  him  were  several  Baptists  from  Anglesey  and 
Carnarvonshise  intending  to  reach  the  Welsh  settlement 
called  "  Beulah  "  which  had  been  founded  by  Morgan  John 
Rhys  in  the  Allegheney  Mountains,  but  like  Moses  he  died 
before  he  reached  the  land  of  promise  in  seven  days  after  he 
landed  in  Philadelphia."  (See  Hist,  of  the  Welsh  Baptists 
by  Dr.  Spinther  James,  Vol.  iii,  p.  236,  249,  251.; 

It  seems  that  historians  generally  have  believed  that 
Richard  Michael  died  in  Philadelphia,  but  the  above  record 
in  his  old  Welsh  Bible  corrects  this  mistake.  We  now  can 
follow  his  earthly  course  from  his  birthplace  in  Anglesey  in 
1744  to  his  grave  in  Wilmington,  Delaware,  in  1801.  The 
old  Bible  remained  in  my  possession  for  several  years,  but 
in  1898  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Wilmarth,  D.D.,  Dr.  Spencer's  suc- 
cessor as  pastor  at  Roxborough  wrote  to  me  stating  that 
some  of  the  descendants  of  Richard  Michael  at  Philadelphia 


10  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

requested  him  to  ask  me  if  I  would  be  kind  enough  to  give 
them  the  loan  of  the  old  Bible  as  they  wished  to  consult 
some  things  in  it,  nnd  tbnt  tliey  would  be  very  grateful 
for  the  favour  and  would  p.iy  the  expressage  to  and 
fro.  I  answered  Dr.  Wilmartli  by  return  and  stated  that  I 
wt'uld  cheerfully  grant  them  tlieir  wish,  and  not  onl\-  that 
but  that  I  would  give  them  the  old  Bible  for  them  to  keep 
it  as  an  heirloom  in  the  family  out  of  respect  to  the  memory 
of  their  distinguished  ancestor,  and  so  I  returned  it — but  I 
have  thought  since  that  the  old  Bible  should  have  been  put 
in  the  Baptist  Historical  Society,  Philadelphia.  From  the 
above  it  is  seen  how  the  old  Bible  came  into  my  possession 
viz.  by  the  will  of  one  of  the  daughters  of  Richard  Michael, 
and  how  I  returned  it  to  the  family — Wilsons. 

Dr.  Wilmarth  in  a  letter  to  me  dated  Sept.  22,  1898, 
states  that  Mrs.  Boyle  had  been  married  three  times — her 
first  marriage  name  was  Mrs.  Young,  her  second  name,  Mrs. 
Boyle,  and  her  third  name,  Mrs  Hays  ;  also  that  her  name 
was  Mrs.  Hays  when  I  called  on  her,  however,  Mrs.  Boyle  is 
the  name  given  in  the  will  in  the  old  Bible.  More  than 
forty  vears  have  passed  since  the  above  visit — many  changes 
have  taken  place,  but  the  impressions  remain  and  will 
remain  as  long  as  life  lasts. 

Monday  morning,  when  on  my  wav  to  the  Publication 
Rooms  to  the  Ministers'  Meeting,  then  at  730  Arch  street, 
one  of  the  first  ministers  I  r.  et  was  the  Rev.T.  Price,  Ph.D., 
Aberdare  (late  now)  -on  his  w-ay  to  the  same  place,  and  so 
we  went  tc^gether.  That  spring  and  summer  (1869J,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Henry  of  Belfast,  Ireland,  and  Dr.  Price,  Aberdare, 
visited  the  States  in  behalf  of  the  Irish  Mission,  and  on  the 
Monday  referred  to  above  they  spoke  at  the  Conference — if 
my  memory  serves  me  right  and  I  think  it  does,  Dr. 
Cathcart  introduced  Dr.  Price,  wdio  made  one  of  his  great 
addresses.  There  were  strong  men  in  the  conference  as 
have  been  through  the  many  years  of  its  existence — but 
they  soon  felt  that  a  strong  man  was  addressing  them.  Dr. 
Price  was  one  of  the  speakers  at  the  first  conuriencement  of 
Crozer  Theological  Seminary  in  June,  1869.  He  \^•as  one  of 
the  great  njen  of  Wales.  He  was  pastor  of  the  Calvary 
Baptist  Church,  Aberdare  for  more  than  forty  years,  and 
died  as  its  pastor  in  1888,  and  his  mortal  remains  are  buried 
in  front  of  his  own  church,  thus  the  reader  will  see  that  the 
recollections  of  my  first  visit  ti)  Roxborough  are  very 
happy. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I9 

THE  FIRST  COMMENCEMENT. 

The  first  year  passed  very  rapidly — too  rapidly  for  me,  as 
family  circumstances  made  it  necessary  for  me  to  leave  at 
its  close.  As  noted  above  during  the  spring  and  summer 
of  i86g  the  late  Rev.  T.  Price,  Ph.D.,  t)f  Aberdare,  Wales, 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henry  of  Belfast,  Ireland,  visited  America 
in  the  interest  of  the  Irish  Mission  ;  hence  Dr.  Price  took 
advantage  of  his  visit  to  the  States  to  travel  extensively, 
and  as  he  was  one  of  the  speakers  at  the  first  commencement, 
wrote  an  account  of  it  to  the  "  Star  of  Wales,"  in  Welsh, 
A  translation  will  be  interesting  of  this  now  historic  report  : 

"  I  left  Richmond,  Virginia,  with  the  most  wonderful  re- 
miniscences in  order  to  be  present  at  an  interesting  meeting 
at  Schuylkill  Falls.  This  meeting  is  called  a  Strawberry 
Festival  for  the  ministers  of  Pa.  This  feast  is  given  once 
every  year  by  Mr.  Abbott  and  his  family.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  meetings  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  spots 
in  the  land.  Here  I  met  Emily  (his  daughter)  who  had 
been  brought  here  by  the  Rev.  B.  D.  Thomas  who  had  come 
from  Pittston  to  the  feast. 

The  next  day — Wednesday — we  all  attended  the  first 
yearly  meeting  of  the  Theological  Institution,  known  as 
Crozer's  Institute,  at  Upland,  about  14  miles  from  Phila- 
delphia. This  is  an  entirely  new  Institute  and  the  fruit  of 
the  benevolence  of  one  family  only.  There  is  in  the  building 
a  library  of  over  2,000  of  the  best  books  given  by  this 
family.  All  is  worth  about  £y^,ooo.  This  family  has  also 
endowed  the  Institution  by  erecting  houses  for  the  teachers, 
and  securing  the  salaries  of  four  of  the  best  teachers.  Dr. 
Weston  is  the  President,  assisted  by  Dr.  Pepper  and  Dr. 
Osgood,  whilst  another  one  is  to  be  added.  I  was  requested 
to  give  an  address  on  the  history  and  operations  of  the 
Baptists  in  Wales,  which  I  did  as  best  I  could  with  only  a 
day's  notice.  This  address  was  one  of  three  that  day.  Dr. 
Hague  of  Boston  gave  an  address  at  10  a.m.,  and  I  at  2 
p.m.,  and  Dr.  Bliss  of  Lewisberg  University  in  the  evening. 
I  am  glad  to  say  that  the  Welsh  stand  high  here,  and  it  was 
not  a  small  matter  to  ask  a  Welshman  to  give  an  address 
with  such  men  as  Dr.  Hague,  Dr.  Bliss,  Dr.  Anderson  of 
Rochester  University,  and  the  learned  President  of  Madison 
University.  I  am  happy  to  state  that  a  Welshman — brother 
John  Griffith  from  Rhos,  Mountain  Ash,  is  one  of  the  best 
Hebrew  scholars  in  the  Institution.     He  came  here  a  year 


20  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

ago  and  has  won  for  himself  a  very   good   name."      From 
"Seven  Cy^nru," — ("Star  of  Wales,")  for  July  gth,  1869. 

Dr.  Price  was  one  of  tlie  most  noted  men  of  Wales  in  his 
day  -he  died  at  his  home  in  Al  erdarein  1888 — his  daughter 
Emily  referred  to  above  still  lives  at  the  old  homestead — 
Rose  Cottage,  Aberdare. 


MY  DISMISSION. 

As  [  have  already  stated — circumstances  made  it  necessary 
for  me  to  leave  at  the  close  of  the  first  year — hence  the 
faculty  gave  me  the  following  testimonials  :  — 

Chester,  Pa., 

July  20th,  1869. 

Mr.  John  T.  Griffith  has  been  a  member  of  Crozer  Theo- 
logical Seminary  for  the  past  year.  He  has  the  entire 
confidence  of  his  teachers,  and  is  heartily  recommended  as 
a  Christian  and  as  a  minister  to  the  churches. 

Henry  G.  Weston. 

Crozer  Theological  Seminary, 
Chester,  Pa., 

July  i6th,  1869. 

I  am  happy  to  state  that  John  Thomas  Griffiths  was  a 
student  at  this  Seminary  during  the  Seminary  year  1868-9. 
He  proved  himself  in  my  class  in  Hebrew  a  diligent  and 
apt  scholar,  and  it  is  with  sincere  regret  that  I  part  with 
him. 

Howard  Osgood. 


Chester,  Pa., 

June  3rd,  1869. 

(To  all  parties  concerned.) 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  testify  that  brother  J.  T.  Griffiths 
who  has  been  a  student  in  the  Crozer  Theological  Seminary 
during  the  past  year,  has  in  this  time  been  faithful  and 
successful  in  his  studies,  gentlemanly  m  his  deportment, 
and  to  all  appearance  thoroughly  christian  in  his  spirit,  and 
leaves  the  Seminary  under  no  shadow,   while   both  he  and 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  21 

the  officers  of  the  Institution  would  be  glad  if  circumstances 
allowed  him  to  complete  the  full  course  of  study,  they  re- 
cognize in  the  impossibility  the  will  of  God.  He  gives 
promise  of  great  usefulnes  in  the  Christian  ministry  and  is 
worthy  of  confidence. 

George  D.  B.  Pepper, 

Prof,  of  Christian  Theology. 


Thus  I  spent  and  closed  the  year  at  Crozer  and  left  with 
the  best  wishes  of  my  dear  teachers  and  sorry  that  I  could 
not  remain  longer.  I  have  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
student  to  enter  the  ministry  from  Crozer  Seminary. 


THE  FIRST  RE-UNION  OF  THE  FIRST  STUDENTS 

OF    CROZER    THEOLOGICAL 

SEMINARY. 

Although  as  already  stated  I  left  the  seminary  in  June, 
i86g,  I  always  felt  an  interest  in  it  and  improved  every  op- 
portunity to  extend  its  influence.  One  day  in  the  spring  of 
1887  my  dear  old  friend  tlie  late  Rev.  J.  Sexton  James,  D.D. 
and  the  writer  met  at  the  Baptist  Publication  Rooms,  1420, 
Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  and  in  the  course  of  our 
conversation  Crozer  seminary  had  our  attention — said  one 
to  the  other — "June,  1888.  will  be  the  20th  anniversary  of 
the  Crozer  seminary — how  would  it  be  if  we  could  have  a 
re-union  of  the  students  of  the  first  year,  and  also  make  an 
effort  to  present  $2,000  (dollars)  to  the  seminary  and  call  it 
the  No.  I,  Alumni  Scholarship?" — "  Excellent "  said  the 
other — "  by  all  means  let  us  work  for  it,  and  as  the  Baptist 
State  Meetings  are  to  meet  at  Williainsport  in  October,  we 
will  arrange  matters  then."  Is  it  too  much  to  say  that  the 
above  is.  the  germ  from  which  all  the  scholarships  of  Crozer 
seminary  have  deveh^ped  ?  October  17th,  1887,  the  annual 
meetings  of  the  Pennsylvan-a  Baptist  State  Meetings 
began  at  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Williamsport,  Pa.> 
with  a  sermon  by  the  late  Rev.  B.  A.  Woods  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  from  Romans  8.  32.  Wednesday  morning, 
Oct.  19th,  five  of  the  first  students  met  in  the  basement  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Williamsport.  Rev.  Leroy 
Stephens,  D.D.  was  appointed  chairman,  and  Re\'.  J.  Sexton 
James,  D.D.,  Financial  Sec.  and  Treasurer.  We  decided  to 
hold  a  re-union  meeting  in  June,  1888,  at  the  seminary  and 
to  make  an  effort  to  raise  the  No.  i,  Scholarship  (^f  2,000 
dollars. 


22  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Sunday,  June  loth,  1888,  the  Twentieth  Anniversary  of 
Crozer  seminary  was  opened  with  a  graduating  sermon  by 
Prof.  Bliss,  from  Math.  13.  51-52.  Space  will  not  permit  de- 
tails. Wednesday,  June  13th,  twelve  young  men  graduated, 
and  at  3  p.m.  the  first  students  held  their  First  Re-union 
Meeting. 

Rev.  W.  W.  Dalbey  presided.  The  late  Dr.  H.  L. 
Wayland  reported  this  meeting  in  the  "National  Baptist," 
which  I  insert  here  :  — 

"  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffiths  of  Lansdale  read  a  paper  showing 
that  the  Baptists  of  Pennsylvania  had  sprung  from  Wales. 
Rev.  J.  S.  James  read  a  paper  of  personal  reminiscence 
giving  brief  annals  of  the  twenty  boys  who  studied  at  the 
seminary  during  the  first  year.  All  but  one  are  living.  A 
moderate  estimate  foots  up  not  less  than  four  thousand 
persons  baptised  by  these  twenty  students,  about  a  dozen 
church  edifices  erected  under  their  care,  numerous  young 
men  and  women  aided  to  an  education,  not  only  by  those 
who  have  charge  of  educational  institutions,  but  also  by 
pastors  who  have  been  watchful  for  worthy  young  people, 
sent  them  to  school,  in  many  cases  actually  aiding  them 
from  their  own  funds. 

Dr.  Weston  closed  with  a  very  happy  talk,  looking  back 
to  the  beginning  of  the  twenty  years. — 


"National  Baptist,"  June,  il 

What  had  been  done  for  the  No.  I  scholarship?  The  fol- 
lowing item  from  the  same  issue  of  the"  National  Baptist," 
will  explain  — 

".\t  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Allunmi  Association,  W^ed- 
nesday  morning,  June  13th,  ....  the  association  very 
heartily  adopted  as  its  own  the  movement  set  on  foot  a  few 
weeks  ago  by  the  first  students  of  the  seminary  to  raise  an 
Alumni  scholarship  of  2000  dollars.  The  secretary  of  the 
association,  Rev.  J.  S.  James  of  Germant<jwn  was  autho- 
rised to  push  the  enterprise  to  nnmediate  completion.  The 
subscription  list  was  reported  to  foot  up  tf)  1,400  dollars — 
at  the  close  of  the  day.  Two  thousand  is  the  minimum 
limit. 

At  the  next  anniversary  the  fund  will  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  trustees  for  permanent  investment.  The  in- 
come is  to  be  applied  under  the  direction  of  the  faculty 
toward  the  maintenance  of  a  student    in  either  an  under- 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  23 

graduate  or  a  post-graduate  course,  having  due  regard  to 
the  character  of  the  student,  such  was  the  beginning  of  a 
movement  that  has  proved  a  great  blessing  to  the  seminary 
and  will  continue  so  for  ages  to  come. 

Dr.  Weston  at  the  above  anniversary  said  that  up  to  that 
date  more  than  400  students  had  been  instructed  at  the 
seminary — and  they  were  scattered  through  all  the  states  of 
the  Union,  and  some  in  Asia  and  Africa  as  missionaries,  &c. 
May  God's  richest  blessings  rest  upon  an  Institution  that 
does  such  work. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


IRewburg,   ®bio. 


AT  the  time  to  which  this  article  refers  Newburg  was  a 
borough,  several  miles  outside  of  Cleveland,  though  it 
is  now  included  in  the  city,  and  is  known  as  such,  but  I  shall 
speak  of  it  as  Newburg  in  this  article. 

Baptist  history  at  Newburgh  dates  back  to  1828.  About 
the  year  1828  Benjamin  Rouse  and  wife,  who  were  the  earli- 
est members  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Cleveland,  began 
a  Sunday  School  in  Newburg.  How  long  it  continued  is  not 
known.  It  is  claimed  that  this  was  the  first  attempt  to  do  re- 
ligious work  in  this  vicinity.  (See  History  of  Trinity  Baptist 
Church).  About  the  close  of  1867  Mrs.  Vinton,  widow  of  the 
late  Rev.  John  J.  Vinton,  moved  to  Newburg  from  Johnstown, 
Pa.,  and  inasmuch  as  there  was  no  Baptist  Church  in  the 
place,  she  decided  that  she  will  do  all  in  her  power  to  have  one, 
hence  she  went  to  a  brother  who  had  been  there  two  years,  and 
they  went  through  the  neighbourhood  and  succeeded  in  getting 
eight  to  attend  the  first  meeting,  which  was  held  at  her  home, 
and  her  brother,  L.  Jones,  worked  with  her  in  starting  the 
cause.  The  meetings  were  held  all  through  the  winter  at 
their  home 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1868  they  sent  for  Mr.  H.  O.  Row- 
lands (now  Rev.  H.  O.  Rowlands,  D.D.,  Davenport,  Iowa), 
who  was  then  a  student  at  Hamilton  (now  Colgate)  Univer- 
sity, New  York,  who  spent  six  Sundays  with  them,  and  during 
that  time  the  church  increased  in  strength  and  number.  Sun- 
day, April  19,  1868,  the  Welsh  Baptist  Church  was  organized 
with  about  thirty-two  members.  The  late  Revs.  William 
Owens,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  Richard  Edwards,  Pottsville,  Pa., 
officiated  on  the  occasion  when  two  were  baptized  that  day 
by  Mr.  Owens,  and  the  Lord's  Supper  administered  in  the 
evening.      [See    "Y    Wasg "  (the    Press)    for    June,     1868.] 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  25 

Eev.  H.  O.  Rowlands,  D.D.,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer  dated 
August  26,  1904,  says  that  he  supplied  Newburg  some  time 
between  1867  and  '68  ;  and  that  the  church  then  worshipped 
in  a  school  house ;  ihat  the  chief  brethren  were  Thomas 
Aurelius,  Lewis  Jones,  Jacob  Harris,  &c.  They  had  also  several 
excellent  sisters,  and  the  chief  among  them  was  Mrs.  Vinton. 
The  church  was  organized  whilst  he  was  there,  and  the  Rev. 
Wm.  Owens  preached,  and  it  was  decided  to  budd  a  chapel 
at  once,  for  which  most  of  the  money  was  raised  by  Mr.  Row- 
lands, he  then  having  returned  to  his  work  at  college.  The 
meeting  house  was  built  in  the  year  1868. 

After  having  depended  on  supplies  for  nearly  two  years,  the 
church  gave  a  unanimous  call  to  the  writer  in  July,  1869, 
which  he  accepted,  and  entered  immediately  upon  his  work. 
Sunday,  August  22,  1869,  the  ordination  services  were  held. 
The  following  ministers  were  present :  Rev.  Wm.  Owens, 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Rev.  F.  Evans  (Ednyfed),  Hyde  Park,  Pa., 
Rev.  Edward  Jenkins,  Coalburg,  O.,  and  Rev.  D.  C.  Thomas, 
Paris,  O.  Rev.  Wm.  Owens  was  cliairman  of  the  council, 
and  D.  C.  Thomas  clerk.  After  the  usual  examination  the 
council  declared  itself  satisfied,  and  tlie  ordination  services 
were  held  the  same  day.  Ordination  prayer  and  charge  to  the 
church.  Rev.  Mr.  Owens:  charge  to  the  candidate  was  deli- 
vered by  the  Rev.  F.  Evans  (Ednyfed),  the  candidate's  pastor. 
Sermons  were  also  preached  by  Jenkins  and  Thomas,  and 
brother  James  Price  of  Lake  Shore  took  part  in  the  devotional 
•exercises.  Mr  Price  was  known  later  as  the  Rev.  James  R. 
Price,  of  Edwardsville,  Pa.,  where  he  died  June  11,  1883. 

Sunday,  August  29,  1869,  I  baptized  my  first  candidate,  viz. 
Miss  Mary  Davies.  At  that  time  there  was  no  English  Bap- 
tist Church  at  Newburg,  but  I  found  several  English  Baptists 
at  the  "Crossing,"  as  it  was  called,  between  Newburg  and 
Cleveland,  and  after  having  found  them,  I  went  and  consulted 
with  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Strong,  D.D.,  then  pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Cleveland,  but  now  President  of  Rochester 
Theological  Seminary,  New  York,  and  being  encouraged  by 
him  we  started  an  English  interest  at  the  Carter  School  House. 
As  I  have  the  minutes  of  the  first  meeting  ever  held  to  con- 
sider the  propriety  of  starting  an  English  Baptist  Church  in 
Newburg,  it  will  be  of  interest  to  publish  them. 

"  In  response  to  a  call  for  a  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  house 
of  Timothy  Heath  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  propri- 
ety and  necessity  of  starting  an  English  Baptist  Church  at 
.Newburg,  the  following  persons  were  present;  Rev.  J.  T. 
Griffith,  Philip  Martm,  Ambler  Rogers,  Wm.  Rees,  Timothy 


26  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Heath,  Mrs.  Dora  Hughes,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Heath,  Mrs.  Mary 
Rogers,  Miss  Lilian  Heath.  The  meeting  was  opened  with 
the  reading  of  Scripture  and  prayer  by  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith, 
after  which  he  was  elected  chairman,  and  Mr.  Timothy  Heath 
clerk. 

On  motion  made  by  Mr.  T.  Heath,  and  seconded  by  Wm. 
Eees,  it  was  decided  that  we  start  an  English  Baptist  Church. 

On  motion  made  and  seconded  by  the  same  persons,  it  was 
decided  that  brother  J.  T.  Griffith  l>e  invited  to  preach  in  the 
school  house  at  Carter's  Corners  every  other  Sunday  evening, 
and  every  Thursday  evening.  Each  one  present  pledged  them- 
selves to  help  to  the  extent  of  their  ability.  Adjourned  to 
meet  at  the  school  iiouse  the  following  Thursday  evening. 

Newburg,  Dec.  g.  1869. 

J.  T.  Griffith, 

Chairman. 
Timothy  Heath,  Clerk. 

In  accordance  with  their  wish,  the  writer  preached  for  the 
Welsh  and  English  Baptistsof  Newburg  until  the  spring  of  1870, 
when  providential  circumstances  made  it  necessary  for  him  to 
resign  when  he  did  so,  aud  left  in  peace  Such  was  the  con- 
dition of  the  Baptists  in  Newburg  in  1870.  In  this  English 
work  the  writer  was  aided  by  the  Ohio  Baptist  State  Associ- 
ation. After  the  writer  left  Newburg  the  English  work  de- 
clir.ed  somewhat,  but  it  was  revived  again.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C. 
F.  Christian  and  their  daughter  Bertha  rented  Oviatt's  Hall, 
and  put  it  in  order,  and  on  Su!ida\-,  Sept.  15,  1872,  gathered  a 
few  children  and  began  a  Sunday  School.  Miss  Bertha 
f'hristian  was  the  first  superintendent,  and  she  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  John  Battersby.  The  Welsh  Baptist  Church  loaned 
them  the  little  school  Testaments,  and  it  was  no  small  favor. 

Marcl)  4,  1S73,  '^'"'^  chnrcli  was  regularly  constituted  as  an 
Independent  Baptist  Church,  ttie  following  were  the  constitu- 
ent  members:  Timothy  Heath,  Ann  L.  Heath,  C.  F.  Christian, 
Mrs.  C.  F.  Christian,  Bertha  Christian.  Evan  H.Davis,  Mrs  E. 
H.  Davis,  John  Battersby,  Mary  Battersby,  J.'me  Farren, 
Thomas  Jamin,  Mrs.  Thomas  Jamm,  and  Mrs  Fanny  Hickman. 
June  3,  1873,  a  council  was  called,  and  the  church  was  recog- 
nized. Rev.  Frank  Remington  was  chairman.  Rev.  S  Dun- 
can conducted  the  opening  religious  services,  and  Deacon 
Hyde  was  elected  clerk.  Brother  Timothy  Heath  represented 
the  church  The  recognition  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Rev.  S.   Duncan.     (The    reader  will   notice    that    there    were 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  27 

two  present  in  the  above  organization  effected  March  4,  1873, 
who  w^re  present  at  the  meeting  of  December  9,  1869,  viz., 
Timoth}'  Heath  and  his  wife  Ann  L.  Heath,  and  that  the 
clerk  of  the  meeting  of  December  9,  1869,  represented  the 
church  at  the  council  of  June  3,  1873,  viz.,  Timothy  Heath. 
Here  are  the  connecting  links.  Since  then  they  have  made 
great  progress.  The  church  owns  a  fine  meeting  house  and 
parsonage,  and  a  membership  of  400.  The  Welsh  church  has 
been  served  by  the  following  pastors  :  Samuel  Thomas,  John 
T.  Griffith,  D.  C.  Thomas,  Moses  Wright,  John  Skym,  T.  J. 
Morgans  and  M.  H.  Jones,  the  present  pastor.  The  English 
church  has  been  served  by  John  T.  Griffith,  F.  Tolburst,  H. 
Brotherton  and  Llywelyn  Brown,  the  present  pastor.  Surely 
the  Lord  has  done  great  thmgs  for  the  Baptists  of  Newburg 
since  the  sainted  Mrs  X'inton  gathered  the  few  to  her  home  in 
1867. 

I  am  glad  to  have  had  the  honour  of  having  had  a  share  in 
the  beginning  of  such  a  work,  and  of  having  been  the  first 
pastor  of  the  English  Baptists  of  Newburg. 

After  I  left  Newburg  I  preached  a  few  months  at  Niles  and 
Weathersfield,  Ohio,  when    I   accepted   a   call   in    December 
1870,  from  the  English  Baptist  Church  of  Sharon,  Pa. 


CHAPTER  V 


XThc  first  three  \)ear6  of  the  Baptist  Cbiircb 
at  Sbarpsville,  |pa. 


(Delivered  at   Sharpsville,   Pa.,  June  20,    1905,   at   the   33rd 

anniversary.) 


INASMUCH  as  the  work  at  Sliarpsvilie  was  begun  in  con- 
nection with  my  pastorate  at  Sharon,  it  may  be  proper 
for  me  to  make  a  few  remarks  pertaining  to  my  work  at  Sharon 
which  led  to  the  work  at  Sharpsville.  I  began  my  pastoral 
work  at  Sharon  the  second  Sunday  of  December,  1870,  and 
during  my  pastorate  there  as  in  all  other  pastorates  since,  I 
sought  out  some  places  outside  my  church  where  1  might  da 
mission  work.  1  preached  at  Wheatland  several  times  on 
Sunday  afternoons,  and  among  other  places  I  started  mission 
work  at  Sh;trpsville,  and  preached  here  at  the  Methodist 
Church  the  first  time  January  8,  1871,  from  Matthew  26  :  6-13, 
and  continued  do  so  until  April  30,  1871,  when  I  saw  that  I 
could  be  of  more  service  at  Sharpsville  and  Stoneboro  than  at 
Sharon,  hence  I  resigned.  1  preached  my  last  sermon  there 
Sunday  morning,  April  30,  1871,  from  i  Peter  i:  3.  .At  the 
close  of  my  sermon  the  following  resolutions  were  presented 
which  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

"At  a  special  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Baptist  Church 
of  .--haron  held  April  30th,  1871,  the  following  resolutions 
were  read  and  adopted  : 

Whereas  the  Kev.  J.  T.  Griffith,  our  pastor,  deems  it  ex- 
pedient to  close  his  pastoral  relations  with  this  church  and  his 
lieing  duly  presented,  and  accepted,  be  it  therefore  Resolved, 
that  as  a  church  we  deeply  regret  the  circumstances  that  have 


^ 


^ 


c  2 


c:> 


0)  , 


OS 

=    .  -c 


o  ^    I 
a:  o  i 


o  o 
O 


REMINISCENSES — AMERICA.  29 

led  to  such  separation  ;  that  we  highly  esteem  his  Christian 
character,  and  appreciate  his  ministerial  and  pastoral  labors 
since  he  has  been  with  us  ;  that  we  cordially  commend  him 
to  the  love  and  confidence  of  our  churches  at  large,  especiall}' 
to  such  of  them  as  are  now  destitute  of  a  settled  pastor  among 
them  ;  that  we  tender  to  Bro.  Griffiths  this  expression  of  our 
Christian  sympathy,  and  fervently  invoke  on  his  behalf  the 
guidance  of  the  Divine  Pland  leading  him  to  some  field  of  labor 
in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  where  his  peace,  comfort  and  usefulness 
will  be  secured  and  promoted. — Win.  Prmdle,  clerk;  Robert 
Dunham,  chairman. 

The  above  resolutions  were  written  and  presented  by  the 
late  venerable  Rev.  John  Parker,  who  then  lived  in  Sharon, 
but  since  has  gone  to  heaven.  Father  Parker  had  been  at  one 
tmie  pastor  of  the  Sharon  Church,  I  have  heard  of  pastors 
who  have  been  very  much  hindered  by  ex-pastors,  but  this 
dear  old  ex-pastor  of  Sharon  was  one  of  the  best  helpers  and 
w'isest  counsellors  I  ever  had.  It  was  always  a  feast  to  my 
soul  to  visit  him,  and  an  inspiration  to  my  preaching  to  see  him 
on  the  front  seat  on  Sunday  morning.  I  am  glad  of  this 
opportunity  to  pay  this  tribute  of  respect  to  his  memory, 

Sunday  afternoon,  April  30,  1871,  the  day  I  closed  my  work 
at  Sharon  I  organized  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Sharps- 
ville  with  fourteen  members,  viz.,  John  T.  Griffith,  Robert 
Dunham,  Isaac  Lynch,  James  H.  Garrison,  Joseph  Byerly, 
John  J,  Hofius,  John  A,  Porterfield,  Alban  G.  Dunham,  Sarah 
Lynch,  Elizabeth  Hofius,  Augusta  Lightner,  Mary  Hofius, 
.Alice  Garrison,  George  Hofius.  These  fourteen  constituted 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Sharpsville. 

I  immediately  assumed  the  pastoral  care  of  this  little  band 
in  conection  with  Stoneboro.  We  held  our  services  in  the 
old  school  house  across  the  railway  from  the  Methodist  Church. 
June  nth,  1871,  a  council  convened,  which  had  been  previ- 
ously called  for  the  purpose  of  recognizing  the  new  body  as  a 
regular  Baptist  Church.  It  was  organized  by  electing  Rev. 
Jacob  Morris,  of  West  Salem,  chairman,  and  Rev.  W.  F. 
Cowden,  of  New  Castle,  clerk.  After  a  proper  examination, 
the  council  decided  unanimously  to  recognize  the  body  as  a 
regular  Baptist  Church,  The  following  ministers  participated 
in  the  services  : — The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev,  John 
Burk,  of  Hubbard,  from  Ephesians  4:3,  "  Endeavouring  to 
keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace,"  The  prayer 
of  recognition  was  offered  by  Rev.W^  M,  Ingersoll,  of  Youngs- 
town  ;  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev,  Jacob  Morris,  and  charge 
to  the  church  by  Rev.  Entwistle,  of  Orangeville.     A  pleasant 


30  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

event  on  this  day  was  the  baptizing  of  the  first  four  candidates 
at  Sharpsville:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  B.  Mazen,  Mrs.  Sophia  Byerly 
and  Miss  Mary  Lynch.  Brother  Hazen  had  expressed  a  desire 
to  have  himself  and  wife  put  down  together  under  the  water, 
therefore  I  asked  Bro.  Cowden  to  go  with  me  into  tb.e  water 
and  take  charge  of  Mr.  Hazen,  and  I  would  take  charge  of 
Mrs.  Hazen,  and  so  we  put  both  down  together  in  the  bap- 
tismal grave.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight,  though  it  may  have 
seemed  singular  at  the  time. 

Sunday,  June  12th,  the  first  communion  service  was  held 
when  the  above  new  members  received  the  hand  of  fellowship, 
and  others.  We  soon  found  that  the  old  school  house  was  too 
small,  hence  we  felt  that  some  arrangement  must  be  made  for  the 
church.  Two  reasons  prompted  the  necessity  of  such  a  move- 
ment ;  one  was  the  sraallness  of  the  school  house,  the  other  was 
its  nearness  to  the  Methodist  Church,  causing  the  pastors  of 
both  churches  sometimes  to  interrupt  each  other  in  their  preach- 
ing, especially  when  the  windows  would  have  to  be  opened  on 
warm  summer  days. 

July  22,  1S72,  our  first  regular  covenant  meeting  was  held, 
at  which  time  the  church  unanimously  voted  to  proceed  im- 
mediately towards  erecting  a  meeting  house,  and  committees 
were  appointed  for  that  purpose.  I  \\ell  remember  when  the 
determination  of  this  little  church  to  build  was  made  known, 
many  thought  it  was  a  bold  step,  and  that  the  enterprise 
would  end  in  failure,  but  it  did  not,  as  we  shall  soon  see. 
The  committees  entered  upon  their  work  with  a  determination 
to  succeed,  and  they  did  accomplish  their  aim.  Up  to  this 
date  the  church  had  only  one  deacon.  Father  Robert  Dunham, 
hence  two  new  deacons  were  elected  .  George  Hofius  and 
Adamson  B.  Hazen.  These  were  set  apart  to  the  office  and 
work  of  the  deaconship  Sunday,  September  17,  1871.  By  this 
time  we  felt  that  we  could  not  continue  our  meetings  at  the 
school  house,  hence  efforts  must  be  made  to  secure  some  more 
commodious  place  of  worship  until  our  meeting  house  would 
be  ready,  which  was  now  being  built.  So  I  went  to  General 
Pierce,  as  he  was  mostly  called,  and  he  very  kindly  granted  us 
the  use  of  his  hall  near  the  depot  of  the  E.  &  P.  R.  R.  Sun- 
day, October  29,  1871,  was  our  first  day  in  Pierce  Hall, 
when  I  preached  from  i  Corinthians  3:  9-17,  the  spiritual 
temple,  and  Romans  i  :  16,  "  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel." 
We  felt  now  that  we  were  better  fixed  than  we  had  been  thus 
far.  The  next  important  step  to  take  was  the  organization  of 
a  Sunday  School.  This  question  came  up  at  the  business  meet- 
ing held  March2,i872.  Someof  the  brethren  desired  toorganize 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  3 1 

a  Union  Sunday  School,  giving  as  their  chief  reason  their  ina- 
bility to  purchase  the  necessary  books  on  account  of  the  fact 
that  they  were  putting  forth  every  effort  to  build  the  meeting 
house  and  pay  for  it.  The  end  of  March  was  the  end  of  my 
second  quarter  as  missionary  of  the  General  Baptist  Associ- 
ation of  Pennsylvania,  at  which  time  50  dollars  were  due 
to   me. 

"  Brethren,"  said  I,  "  I  am  a  Baptist  minister,  and  I  must 
see  a  Baptist  Sunday  School  here,  and  if  you  will  organize  a 
Baptist  Sunday  Scliool  here,  and  keep  it  up  as  such  I  will  send 
to  Philadelphia  and  authorize  Bro.  Levi  G.  Beck,  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Association,  to  give  my  50  dollars  to  Dr.  Griffith 
to  send  their  worth  of  books  as  a  gift  to  you."  The  offer  was 
accepted,  the  books  came,  the  school  was  organized,  and  has 
been  in  existence  ever  since. 

The  church  was  now  completely  organized  and  was  waiting 
anxiously  for  the  time  when  they  might  enter  their  new  and 
permanent  home.  This  happy  event  occured  June  9,  1872, 
when  the  meeting  house  was  dedicated.  The  dedicatory  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  Rev.  C.  H.  Harvey,  of  Sharon,  from 
Psalm  93  :  4,  "  Holiness  becometh  thine  house,  O  Lord."  The 
house  is  very  neat  and  commodious,  36  x  50.  Contract  price 
2,500  dollars.  On  Sabbath  morning  the  members  had  a  debt 
of  823.00  dollars  to  take  up.  Before  the  close  of  the  evening 
meeting  the  whole  amount  was  pledged,  so  we  were  glad  to 
announce  that  the  Baptist  Church  of  Sharpsville  was  dedi- 
cated free  of  debt.  Thanks  were  rendered  to  all  who  aided, 
and  among  them  to  Gen.  Pierce  for  his  liberal  gifts.  Thus,  what 
seemed  to  many  an  almost  impossibility,  had  become  a  complete 
success.  The  soliciting  and  building  committees  worked  faith- 
fully and  the  Lord  prospered  them  in  their  work. 

I  continued  to  preach  as  their  pastor  until  April  27,  1873, 
when  I  preached  my  last  sermons  as  pastor  of  the  church 
from  Hebrews  4 :  14,  "  Seeing  then  that  we  have  a  great 
priest  that  is  passed  into  the  heavens,  Jesus  the  son  of  God," 
and  Psalm  119:  54,  "Thy  statutes  have  been  my  songs 
in  the  house  of  my  pilgrimage,"  and  gave  the  hand  of 
fellowship  to  four  new  members.  Thus  closed  the  first  two 
years  pastorate  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Sharpsville.  Those 
two  years  were  not  spent  without  much  anxiety  and  hard 
work  both  for  church  and  pastor,  but  to  God  be  all  the  praise 
for  his  sustaining  grace. 

I  went  from  Sharpsville  to  Jamestown,  I  am  glad  to  see 
some  members  of  this  church  who  welcomed  me  to  Jamestown, 


32  REMINISCUNSeS — AMERICA. 

viz.,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Truesdale  and  Bro.  G.  Devitt. 
Bro.  Devitt  was  then  a  little  younger  than  he  is  now,  and 
lonely  and  companionless,  but  it  was  not  long  before  he 
brought  a  true  help-meet  from  Sharon  to  Jamestown  in  the 
person  of  Miss  Mary  King,  and  in  all  these  years  they  have 
had  a  happy  home  together,  and  may  it  continue  so  for  many 
years  to  come.  I  had  the  honour  of  receiving  her  into  the 
Jamestown  church.  The  Rev.  Jacob  Morris  of  Maysville 
succeeded  me.  Mr.  Morris  lived  on  his  farm  at  Maysville, 
and  travelled  to  and  fro  in  his  own  conveyance  which  at  his 
time  of  life  was  quite  inconvenient  for  him,  hence  he  remained 
here  but  a  short  time.  He  was  a  good  man,  and  rendered 
valuable  service  in  his  generation.  He  died  peacefully  at 
Greenville,  Pa.,  May  8,  1882. 

The  statistics  gathered  from  the  church  records  and  associa- 
tional  minutes  show  that  188  have  been  received  by  baptism, 
71  by  letter,  and  39  by  experience,  making  a  total  of  298.  Of 
this  number  88  have  been  dismissed  by  letter,  47  have  been 
erased  or  excluded,  while  26  have  heard  the  summons,  "Come 
up  higher,"  thus  leaving  a  present  membership  of  137.  In  a 
financial  way,  while  the  money  handled  has  not  been  large, 
yet  m  the  aggregate,  the  showing  is  creditable.  The  amount 
contributed  to  missions  is  $2,040.47  ;  for  Bible  School  work 
f  2,187.30  ;  and  for  home  church  expenses  131,464.40  ;  making 
a  total  of  $35,692.57  that  has  been  used  in  the  work  of  the 
Master. 


CHAPTER     VI. 


Stoncboro. 


THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH   OF  STONEBORO. 

AS  I  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  above  church,  I  wish  to 
pubHsh  a  few  facts  to  show  how  I  found  it,  and  how  I 
left  it.  Stoneboro  is  situated  in  Mercer  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, about  half  way  between  Jamestown  and  Franklin,  on  the 
Ashtabula  and  Oil  City  Rail  Road.  It  is  beautifully  located 
near  what  is  known  as  '  Sandy  Lake,"  which  is  a  Httle  lake 
about  one  mile  and  a  quarter  in  length,  and  about  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  in  width  ;  this  was  our  baptistery  when  I 
was  there. 

I  preached  at  Stoneboro  for  the  first  time  Sunday,  April  23, 
1871,  May  20th,  1871,  the  church  gave  me  a  unanimous  call 
for  half-time,  which  I  accepted  and  began  my  work  with  them 
May  21,  1871.  I  have  copied  the  following  sketch  of  its 
origin  from  a  brief  history  published  in  the  "  Daily  Lake 
Local,"  of  Stoneboro,  for  March  24th,  1888  : 

On  October  9th,  1870,  the  following  named  Baptists  met  at 
the  public  school  house  in  Stoneboro  to  organise  a  Baptist 
Church  :  David  Griffith  and  wife,  Miriam  Griffith,  David  T. 
Davis  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Davies  and  daughter.  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Davis,  David  Phillips,  M.D.,  and  wife,  Permeha  Phillips, 
Elisha  Flickinger  and  wife,  Mrs.  Flickinger,  Thos.  H.  Price, 
Mrs.  Nancy  Gumfory,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Vernon,  Mrs.  Susan 
McCormick,  Mrs.  Sarah  B.  Haskell,  Mrs  Sarah  Corbin,  Mrs. 
Deliah  Hannah,  Mrs  Rebecca  Woolford,  Mrs.  Mariah  Olds. 
Five  men  and  thirteen  women,  eighteen  m  all. 

Rev.  R.  H.  Austin  was  present   and  was  elected   chairman 
of  the  meeting,  and  Dr.  D.  A.  Phillips  was  elected  secretary. 
The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : 


34  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

1.  That  we  organise  ourselves  into  a  regular  Baptist 
Church,  to  be  called  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Stoneboro, 
Pa 

2.  That  we  accept  the  New  Testament  as  our  only  guide  and 
rule  of  faith  and  practice,  and  the  New  Hampshire  Confession 
of  Faith  as  a  true  and  full  exposition  of  the  Doctrines  it 
teaches. 

3.  That  the  Baptist  Churches  of  Fairview,  Sharon,  Green- 
ville, Sheakleyville,  Meadville,  Oil  City  and  Franklin  (all  of 
Pennsylvania)  be  requested  to  send  their  pastors  and  two 
delegates  each,  to  sit  in  council  with  us  on  October  27,  1870, 
to  consider  the  propriety  of  recognising  us  as  a  regular 
Baptist  church. 

The  council  thus  called  met  October  27,  in  the  parlors  of 
the  Lake  House  and  organised  by  electing  Rev.  J.  M.  Perry 
of  Greenville,  moderator,  and  Rev.  Ross  Ward  of  Sheakley- 
ville, clerk. 

There  was  present  at  the  council  five  ordained  Baptist 
ministers,  four  deacons,  and  four  lay  brethren  and  one  sister. 
After  due  consideration  it  was  resolved  by  the  council  to  recog- 
nize the  organisation  as  a  regular  Baptist  Church,  and  the 
public  recognition  services  were  held  at  the  school  house  in  the 
evening  as  follows  :  Sermon  of  Recognition,  Rev.  E  F.  Crane; 
Charge  to  the  Church,  Rev.  J.  M.  Perry;  Prayer  of  Recog- 
nition, Rev.  R.  H.  Austin  ;  Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev.  Ross 
Ward.     Thus  the  little  church  was  equipped  for  its  mission. 

The  first  covenant  meeting  was  held  November  5th,  1870, 
at  which  David  Griffith  and  D.  T.  Davis  were  elected  Deacons, 
the  former  having  held  the  office  ever  since,  the  latter  holding 
it  until  his  removal  from  Stoneboro  in  1881.  At  this  same 
meeting  there  were  two  brethren  and  six  sisters  received  for 
baptism,  and  during  the  three  or  four  weeks  following  eight 
more  brethren  and  five  sisters  were  added,  making  twenty 
one  additions,  and  making  the  membership  thirty-nine  in  all. 
These  additions  were  the  result  of  a  series  of  meetings  held 
with  the  church  by  Rev,  W.  H.  Hurlbutt, 

W^hen  I  commenced  there  the  church  had  no  place  of  wor- 
ship of  its  own  ;  all  the  churches  of  the  village  held  their  ser- 
vices alternately  in  the  public  schoolhouse.  The  Baptist  church 
had  the  privilege  of  holding  its  meetings  both  morning  and 
evening,  every  alternate  Sunday,  previous  to  the  time  of  their 
calling  a  pastor,  but  when   I    went   there   the  second   Sunday 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  35 

after  I  had  accepted  the  call,  I  found  that  the  anti-baptistic 
eleinents,.of  the  community  had  succeeded  in  depriving  the 
Baptist  Church  of  the  use  of  the  school  house  in  the  evening, 
so  that  we  had  no  public  place  of  preaching  at  Stoneboro  only 
in  the  morning,  This  was  the  first  obstacle  I  had  to  meet  with 
at  Stoneboro,  but  not  the  last.  The  deacons  went  to  the 
elders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Sandy  Lake,  which  is 
about  a  mile  below  Stoneboro,  and  they  found  that  their  house 
was  not  used  on  Sunday  evening  at  the  time,  and  they  secured 
the  use  of  that  house  every  alternate  Sunday  evening  for  one 
year,  by  paying  I  think  it  was  27  dollars  in  adv;:nce 
with  the  privilege  of  holding  a  few  week's  meetings  in  the 
winter. 

So  Sunday  evening,  June  iSth,  1871,  I  preached  my  first 
sermon  in  the  Presbytenan  Church  of  Sandy  Lake,  from 
Joshua  24:  15,  "  But  as  for  me  and  my  house,  we  will  serve 
the  Lord."  We  all  felt  good  because  we  believed  that  the 
exclusion  of  the  church  from  the  use  of  the  public  school 
house  at  Stoneboro,  had  only  extended  the  influence  of  the 
Baptists  of  Stoneboro.  Every  other  Sunday  evening  the 
congregation  and  myself  would  walk  down  the  railway  to 
Sandy  Lake,  and  we  would  mostly  meet  the  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Sandy  Lake  on  his  w^y  to  preach  at 
Stoneboro  whilst  I  would  be  on  my  way  to  preach  in  his 
church  :  this  seemed  very  singular  that  things  should  have 
taken  this  turn,  hut  such  is  the  fact.  By  the  Fall  we  could 
see  that  the  interest  was  increasing  at  Sandv  Lake,  so  that  we 
resolved  to  hold  a  few  weeks  meetings  there  ;  we  commenced 
these  meetings  Sunday,  November  5,  1871.  We  had  blessed 
meetings  for  several  weeks.  Sunday  evening,  December  3, 
1871.  we  held  our  communion  service  at  Sand}'  Lake,  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  when  I  gave  the  hand  of  fellowship  to 
ten.  The  house  was  packed.  We  continued  our  meetings 
every  two  weeks  at  Sandy  Lake  uutil  our  time  was  up  and  I 
have  always  felt  that  the  devil  never  rendered  more  efficient 
service  to  the  Baptists  than  he  did  by  throwing  them  out  of 
the  schoolhouse  at  Stoneboro.  Whilst  we  were  thus  preach- 
ing, the  first  year  both  at  Stoneboro  and  Sandy  Lake,  we 
thought  that  it  was  best  to  provide  a  home  for  the  church  at 
Stoneboro,  hence  Monday  evening,  March  11.  1^72,  a  business 
meeting  was  held  at  the  iiome  of  deacon  Griffiths  to  consider 
the  question  of  building  a  meeting-house,  when  they  unani- 
mously and  enthusiastically  resolved  to  do  so,  and  appointed 
six  as  a  soliciting  committee  ;  and  March  23,  1872,  the  building 
committee  was  appointed.  The  great  task  before  us  now  was 
the  securing  of  a  lot,  and  the  raising  of  funds   to   pay    for   the 


36  REMINIISCENSES— AMERICA. 

house.  We  had  decided  not  to  commence  to  build  until  we 
saw  that  we  had  the  money  enough  nearly  in  hand. 

During  the  summer  of  1872,  I  visited  and  canvassed  the 
following  places  and  raised  the  following  sums :  Sharon, 
$35.50;  Sandy  Lake,  $30;  Meadville,  •'^58.25;  Titusville,  $15; 
Mosiertown,  •?33.63  ;  McKeesport,  83B.50  ;  Elizabeth,  816; 
Pittsburg  and  Allegheny,  851  ;  Apollo,  69.31  ;  Sharpsburg, 
g.75  :   Mt.  Hope,  9.20. 

It  is  much  easier  to  write  the  above  items  now  than  it  was 
to  secure  their  contents  at  that  time.  Many  interesting  in- 
cidents might  be  written — some  pleasant,  others  not   so,   some 

quite  amusing.     When  1   visited   Meadville   Bro. was 

pastor,  I  preached  for  him  Sunday  morning  and  evening. 
As  we  were  going  to  church  in  the  evening,  he  asked  me  what 
my  subject  was.  I  told  him  and  gave  him  my  outline ;  I 
asked  him  to  read  and  pray  at  the  opening  of  the  service,  and 
told  him  to  read  the  chapter  in  which  my  te.xt  was;  it  seems 
that  he  was  accustomed  at  that  time  to  make  comments  on  the 
chapter  he  read,  and  in  doing  so  he  used  up  my  leading  thoughts 
so  that  during  his  prayer  and  the  singing  of  the  second  hymn 
I  had  to  think  of  something  else.  He  may  have  forgotten  it, 
but  I  never  have,  nor  never  shall.  I  did  not  find  any  fault 
with  him,  probably  he  was  unconscious  of  what  he  was  doing 
for  a  young  man. 

Wednesday,  July  17th,  1873,  I  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to 
see  different  members  of  the  company  who  owned  the  coal 
mines  at  Stoneboro,  to  apply  for  a  lot  for  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Stoneboro.  They  received  me  very  kmdly,  and  the  result  of 
my  visit  was  the  securing  of  a  beautiful  lot  on  which  the  house 
now  stands,  and  a  liberal  subscription.  I  shall  never  forget 
the  kindness  of  Mr.  Collins,  the  President  of  the  Company,  as 
well  as  each  one  I  met  whose  names  I  do  not  remember. 
After  the  lot  was  secured,  and  the  money  mostly  raised,  the  bre- 
thren went  to  work  in  earnest.  The  most  of  them  worked  in  the 
mines  in  the  day,  and  in  the  evenings  they  dug  the  foundation 
and  built  the  walls  of  the  church  themselves,  so  as  to  save 
expenses.  What  a  noble  band  they  were,  the  like  is  not  often 
found.  At  last  the  house  was  finished,  and  arrangements  were 
made  to  have  the  dedicatory  services  held  Saturday  and  Sun- 
day, October  i8th  and  19th,  1873.  Quite  a  number  of  minis- 
ters had  been  invited,  but  for  some  reason  only  Bro.  Norman 
Thomas,  of  Sheakleyville  came,  but  the  Lord  came  with  him, 
though  the  two  days  were  very  wet,  yet  we  had  glorious 
meetings.       Bro.   Thomas   preached    Saturday  evening   from 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  37 

Psalm  46  :  ii,  and  also  on  Sunday.      We  raised  •^244. 44,  and 
the  house' was  dedicated  free  from  debt. 

There  never  was  a  congregation  that  felt  happier  in  its 
church  home  than  the  church  at  Stoneboro  did  then.  The 
church  now  felt  that  they  could  fully  organize  themselves  for 
work,  which  they  could  not  have  done  before.  I  continued 
with  them  until  Sunday,  April  19th,  1874,  when  I  preached 
my  last  sermons  as  pastor  of  the  church  from  Jude  24th  and 
25th  verses  in  the  morning,  and  Philippians  i  :  27  in  the 
evening. 

I  closed  my  labours  at  Stoneboro  in  order  to  give  my  full 
time  to  Jamestown.  There  are  many  things  that  I  should 
have  been  glad  to  write  about,  many  of  the  members  of  this 
church,  if  time  and  space  permitted,  but  I  wish  to  say  that  I 
never  saw  a  healthier  set  of  Baptists  than  I  had  at  Stoneboro. 
I  do  not  know  of  one  that  had  an  india-rubber  conscience 
among  them  ;  but  permit  me  to  name  the  preachers  who  have 
gone  out  of  this  little  church^__ 

Revs.  John  T.  Davies,  John  L.  Bailey,  Daniel  R.  Evans, 
John  A.  Jenkins,  T.  B.  Marlin,  Thomas  H.  Rowe.  I  do  not 
know  of  any  one  else.  What  a  host  of  children  and  grand- 
children the  little  church  of  Stoneboro  has.  May  the  Lord 
abundantly  prosper  them.     I  baptized  37  at  Stoneboro. 


:y^X.KeX^ 


CHAPTER    VII. 


Zbc  Samestown  Baptist  (Tbuycb. 


I  AMESTOWN  is  in  Mercer  Co.,  north  western  Pennsyl- 
Cj  vania,  and  is  situated  on  the  junction  of  the  Pittsburg 
and  Erie  R.  R.,  and  the  Oil  City  and  the  Ashtabula  branch  of 
the  Lake  Shore  and  Southern  Michigan  R.  R.  According  to 
the  testimony  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  church,  the  first 
Baptist  preacher  who  preached  here  was  Rev.  Nimrod  Burwell, 
then  of  Greenville,  in  1853.  He  preached  half  his  time  here 
for  one  year.  At  that  time  there  were  only  two  members 
here,  viz.  Mrs.  Cynthia  Moats  and  Mrs.  John  N.  Sinclair. 
Mr.  Burwell  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  D.  L.  Clouse,  of  Green- 
ville, who  preached  in  the  public  schoolhouse  for  one  year.  Mr. 
Clouse  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Jacob  Morris,  then  of  Maysville; 
he  preached  here  one  fourth  of  his  time.  During  his  pastorate 
the  church  was  constituted  into  a  branch  of  the  Maysville 
Church  with  four  meuibers,  viz.  Mrs.  Cynthia  Moats,  Mrs.  John 
N.  Sinclair,  Mrs.  Louisa  Beldon,  and  Bro.  Charles  Truesdale. 
In  two  weeks  from  the  time  of  the  constitution  of  the  church  Bro. 
Morris  baptised  Mrs.CharlesTruesdale,  Mrs.  Minerva  Campbell 
and  a  Mrs.  Clark;  after  the  baptism  the  Lord's  Supper  was  ad- 
ministered, which  was  the  first  communion  service  ever  held 
in  Jamestown,  Pa.  I  am  sorry  that  I  have  not  the  dates. 
During  the  pastorate  of  Bro.  Morris,  Mrs.  Asa  Loudon,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Shultz,    Mrs.   Cordelia   Ward,  and   a   Mrs.  Tarbell 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  39 

were  baptized.  Bro.  Morris  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  M. 
Perry,  of- Greenville.  Bro.  Perry  preached  for  them  on  Sun- 
day afternoons  for  about  a  year.  After  Bro.  Perry  left  them, 
an  application  was  made  to  the  PVench  Creek  Association  to 
send  supplies  to  the  church  once  a  month  ;  the  request  was 
granted  on  condition  that  the  expenses  of  the  preachers  would 
be  paid.  During  all  these  years  the  little  band  of  loyal  Chris- 
tian Baptists  here  held  their  prayer  meetings  every  Sabbath 
afternoon  from  house  to  house,  each  member  paying  five  cents 
per  week  towards  the  expenses.  During  the  second  year  of 
their  supplies  from  the  French  Creek  Association,  they  were 
organized  into  a  regular  Baptist  Church  ;  this  occured  April 
24th,    i86g. 

In  the  Fall  of  1870  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Snyder,  then  of  Springboro, 
Pa.,  came  here  and  held  a  series  of  meetings  for  six  weeks, 
which  resulted  in  ten  conversions.  At  the  close  of  these  meet- 
ings a  council  of  recognition  was  called,  which  met  December 
22nd,  1870.  Rev.  E.  M.  Alden,  of  Linesville,  was  elected  Moder- 
ator, and  Bro.  John  N.  Sinclair,  of  Jamestown,  Pa.,  Clerk. 
After  the  usual  services  it  was  recognized  as  an  independent 
Baptist  Church.  Bro.  Snyder  continued  to  supply  the  church 
until  March,  1871,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor 
of  the  church,  and  remained  with  them  half  his  time  for  two 
years. 

After  Bro.  Snyder  left  they  extended  a  call  to  tlie  writer, 
March  31st,  1873,  to  preach  to  them  half  his  time  m  connec- 
tion with  Stoneboro,  which  he  accepted.  At  that  time  they 
had  no  meeting  house,  they  met  in  the  school  house,  and  the 
congregation  averaged  about  30.  I  began  with  them  May  11, 
1873.  I  continued  to  preach  every  alternate  Sabbath  until 
December  15,  1873,  when  we  entered  upon  a  series  of  special 
meetings  in  which  we  were  ably  assisted  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Hurl- 
butt,  then  of  West  Springfield,  Pa.  Bro.  Hurlbutt  labored 
with  us  from  December  15,  1873,  till  January  8,  1874.  ^^^ 
first  text  was  Isaiah  54:  10,  and  his  last  text  Genesis  3  .  24. 
January  9,  he  left  for  Horseheads,  New  York.  We  had  excel- 
lent meetings,  thirteen  professed  conversion.  I  continued  to 
preach  for  some  weeks  after  Bro.  H.  left,  and  the  Lord  was 
with  us.  By  this  time  the  church  felt  the  need  of  a  meeting 
house,  and  began  to  do  what  they  could  towards  having  one ; 
hence,  Wednesday  evening,  March  18,  1874,  ^^^  decided  to 
build.  Brethren  George  D.  Devitt  and  John  McGregor  were 
authorized  to  draw  the  plan  and  specifications.  Both  men  and 
women  went  at  it  with  a  will,  "  they  had  a  mind  to  work." 
Saturday  evening,  March  28,  the  business  meeting  was  held  at 


40  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

the  house  of  Bro.  Charles  Truesdale,  when  the  first  subscrip- 
tions towards  the  meeting  house  were  raised,  which  amounted 
to  400  dollars. 

Sunday,  April  ig,  1874,  I  closed  my  labors  at  Stoneboro,  and 
after  that  gave  all  mv  time  to  Jamestown.  During  the  sum- 
mer the  church  worked  hard  to  raise  money,  and  I  travelled 
all  over  north  western  Pennsylvania  to  solicit  aid  from  the 
churches.  Sunday,  October  11,  1874,  was  a  happy  day  for 
the  church  ;  on  this  day  they  entered  their  new  home  and  dedi- 
cated their  meeting  house.  The  Rev.  R.  H.  Austin,  of  Fran- 
klin, preached  morning  and  evening.  Revs  Jacob  Morris,  of 
Maysville,  and  N.  Thomas,  of  Sheakleyville,  were  present  and 
assisted  in  the  services.  The  first  one  that  was  baptized  in 
the  new  house  was  Mrs.  M.  J.  Coburn,  which  occurred  Octo- 
ber 25,  1874.  I  closed  my  labors  with  them  April  30,  1876. 
During  my  three  years'  pastorate  I  baptized  forty  ;  the  meet- 
ing house  was  erected,  and  the  congregations  were  greatly  en- 
larged. I  have  never  seen  more  faithful  and  earnest  members 
than  I  found  at  Jamestown. 

B}'  reading  the  sketch  of  the  Stoneboro  church,  we  see  that 
I  closed  my  pastorate  there  in  order  to  give  my  full  time  to 
Jamestown.  I  remained  at  Jamestown  until  April  30,  1876, 
when  I  resigned  in  order  to  go  to  Greenville,  which  is  about 
seven  miles  below  Jamestown  on  the  P.  &  E.  R.  R. 

After  my  resignation  had  been  offered  and  accepted,  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  church: — 

RESOLUTIONS   OF  PROSPECT. 


Jamestown,  Pa.,  April  30,  1876. 

At  the  regular  business  meeting  of  the  Baptist  Church 
of  Jamestown,  held  April  15,  1876,  the  following 
preamble  and  resolutions  were  unanimously  a- 
dopted: 

Whereas  the  Baptist  Church  of  Greenville  has  given  a 
call  to  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith  to  come  and  labor  among 
them,  and— 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  4I 

Whereas    he    has   accepted    the    call,    and    tendered    his 
^  resignation  to  take  effect  the  last  Sabbath   in   April, 
therefore 

Resolved — That  we  accept  the  resignation  tendered  b}' 
our  pastor,  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith,  because,  and  only 
because,  we  too,  with  him,  have  heard  the  voice 
of  the  Master  saying  to  him,  "  Go,"  and  to  us, 
"Give:"  while  we,  with  humbling  voices,  did  con- 
sent to  let  him  go  ;  it  is  with  the  conviction  deep 
in  our  hearts  that  only  for  Christ  could  we  consent 
thus  to  sever  ties  so  strong  ;  to  close  a  relationship 
which  has  been  fraught  with  so  much  of  happiness 
and  profit,  and  upon  which  memory  will  ever  long 
to  linger. 

Resolved — That  we  recognize  with  gratitude  the  influ- 
ence of  that  Spirit  from  above  to  which  we  are 
indebted  for  unity  of  purpose,  action,  feeling 
and  expression,  which  have  characterized  all 
intercourse  between  our  pastor  and  ourselves, 
and  that  our  hearts  are  fully  assured  that  never 
was  our  love  for  him  more  deep  and  tender,  or 
our  confidence  in    him  more  full  and   unshaken  than 


at    this   moment. 


Chas.   H.  Fowler. 
Chas.  Truesdale 


Com. 


Mr.  D.  L.  Calkins,  editor  of  the  "  Jamestown  Sun  "  was 
present  at  my  last  service,  April  30th,  1876,  and  reported  the 
same  to  his  paper  as  follows;  "In  the  evening  Rev.  J.  T. 
Griffith  closed  his  pastoral  relations  with  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Jamestown  with  an  edifying  sermon  from  John  17.  24, 
after  which  resolutions  expressing  the  high  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  the  church  in  its  retiring  pastor,  and  the  deep 
ChristiT.n  love  entertained  for  him  by  the  members  were  read 
to  him  by  Capt.  Fowler.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  addresses 
the  choir  appropriately  sang  "  When  shall  we  meet  again," 
and  the  Rev.  Wm.  Leet  of  Ashland,  Ohio,  who  had  assisted 
in  the  evening's  services  followed  with  a  few  well  timed 
remarks.  The  scene  was  affecting  and  but  few  present  could 
refrain  from  tears,  the  tender  feelings  of  non  members  being 


42  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

deeply  stirred  in  sympathy  with  their  Baptist  brethren.  But 
after  the  parting  the  eternal  meeting.  May  all  who  witnessed 
the  one  participate  in  the  other.  We  greatly  regret  losing  Mr. 
Griffith  and  family  from  our  immediate  neighbourhood,  for  our 
relations  have  been  very  pleasant,  and  will  be  ever  agreeably 
remembered." 


-m-^ 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


(Breenville,  Pennsylvania. 


GREENVILLE  is  a  beautiful  town  about  fourteen  miles 
north  of  Sharon  on  the  Pittsburgh  and  Erie  Railway. 
There  are  three  railways  running  through  the  town.  May  3rd, 
1876,  I  moved  my  family  there,  and  Sunday,  May  7th,  I  began 
my  ministry  among  them.  For  nearly  three  years  before  I  went 
there  the  meeting  house  for  certain  reasons  had  been  closed, 
though  it  was  in  one  of  the  best  locations  in  town,  and  had  a 
population  of  about  five  thousand.  In  the  fall  of  1875  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  Missionary  Committee  of  the  French  Creek  Baptist 
Association  I  visited  Greenville  and  asked  the  trustees  if  they 
would  permit  me  to  preach  in  their  meetinc-house  on  week 
evenings.  After  some  persuasion  they  granted  my  request. 
Cottage  meetings  had  been  held  for  some  time  at  the  home  of 
Bro.  Alfred  Hanson  The  third  week  of  February,  1876,  I 
preached  five  evenmgs  in  the  chapel,  and  thus  we  re-opened  it. 
After  that  I  preached  there  once  a  week  on  a  week  evening 
until  I  settled  among  them  May  7th,  1876.  April  2nd,  1876  I 
preached  for  them  and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper,  and 
on  that  day  they  gave  me  a  call.  Thursday  evening,  April  13, 
they  held  a  Social  in  the  chapel  in  order  to  raise  money  to  re- 
organise the  Sunday  School.  They  made  a  little  over  forty 
dollars.  I  note  these  facts  in  order  to  show  the  condition  of 
the  cause  when  I  went  to  Greenville.  Sunday,  May  14,  1876, 
we  reorganised  the  Sunday  School  with  21  members.      Mon- 


44  REMINISCENCES— AMERICA. 

day  evening,  June  5th,  1876,  an  Installation  meeting  was  held. 
The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  W.  Leet. 
The  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev  Fred.  Evans  (Ednyfed) 
D.D.,  of  FrankUn  from  2  Cor.  iii.  3,  4.,  an  excellent  sermon 
worthy  of  Dr.  Evans  ;  Charge  to  the  church  by  the  Rev.  J.  B. 
Solomon,  M.A.,  D.D.,  of  Sharon.  The  following  is  an  out- 
line of  his  able  charge  : — 

1.  Guard  and  protect  his  reputation,    . 

(Your  pastor  comes  to  you    unimpeached  and   unim- 
peachable, &c.) 

2.  Attend  regular  upon  his'ininistry. 

3.  Co-operate  with  hirn  m  his  work. 

4.  Support  and  pay  him  promptly. 

5.  Give  his  opinions  a  proper  consideration. 

6.  Live  in  peace  among  yourselves. 

Hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.""]acob  Morris. 

This  was  a  memorable  meeting — house  full.  I  soon  saw  a 
great  change  I  held  three  series  of  special  revival  meetings 
in  which  I  baptised  19  ;  received  several  backsliders  and  some 
by  letters.  I  continued  with  them  as  their  pastor  until  Sept. 
30th,  1877,  when  I  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  Sheakleyville. 
The  following  clippings  may  be  of  interest  here  : 

In  the  "  Greenville  Advance"  of  October  4th,  1877,  the  fol- 
lowing items  were  published  : — 

"  On  last  Sabbath  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church  preached  his  last  sermons  as  pastor  of  the  church  ;  in 
the  morning  on  "  The  duty  and  motives  of  Christian  steadfast- 
ness "  and  in  the  evening  on  "  The  unity;  stability  and  tran- 
quility of  the  Heavenly  state."  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffiths  commenced 
his  labors  here  May  7th,  1876,  thus  making  the  term  of  his 
ministry  here  seventeen  months.  During  that  time  there 
have  been  thirty-four  additions  ;  nineteen  by  baptism  and  the 
balance  by  letters  and  restoration.  Several  have  been  dis- 
missed by  letters  to  join  other  churches." 

Also  an  editorial  item  as  follows : — "  Elsewhere  in  these 
columns  we  note  the  fact  that  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffiths,  pastor  of 
the  Baptist  church  of  this  place  for  the  past  seventeen 
months  has  tendered  his  resignation,  and  has  been  released 
from  the  pastorate  of  this  church.    On  Sabbath  last  he  preached 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  45 

his  farewell  discourses,  both  of  which  are  spoken  of  as  able 
eflforts.  .The  church  was  well  filled,  and  the  sermons  listened 
to  with  profound  attention. 

As  an  outsider  we  regret  that  Bro.  Griffiths  is  about  to  leave 
our  community,  for  we  regard  him  not  only  as  an  able  preacher 
but  as  an  excellent  Christian  man  and  worker.  His  record 
here,  as  elsewhere,  has  been  excellent,  in  this  respect.  We 
leain  that  he  has  been  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  Baptist 
congregation  at  Sheakleyvilde,  but  upderstand  that  he  hasn't 
intimated  his  intention  to  accept.  Wherever  he  may  go  he 
will  be  kindly  remembered  by  the  good  people  of  this  place 
without  respect  to  denomination,  and  their  hearty  benedictions 
will  follow  him." 

The  writer  of  the  above  note  was  an  excellent  Christian 
man,  and  a  prominent  mem.ber  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Greenville.  I  can't  remember  his  name  at  present, 
I  think  it  was  Mr.  Brown,  editor  of  the  "  Greenville  Ad- 
vance." .„.r-^^ 

In  the  year  1905,  I  preached  at  Greenville,  and  it  was  a 
great  pleasure  to  me  to  see  the  church  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition, having  taken  the  old  frame  meeting  house  down  and 
having  built  in.  its  place  a  fine  brick  building,  and  also  on  the 
adjoinmg  lot  a  fine  parsonage  for  the  pastor  I  felt  thankful 
to  God  that  I  had  the  honour  of  restarting  the  cause  in  Green- 
ville and  that  in  the  face  of  many  discouragements — l^^^^t  a 
faithful  bi^n4;  re.inained  and  God  blessed  them.  Although  the 
Tabernacle  Church  on  tl)e  W^t-side-lg.stQ<|.  only,  a,  few  years 
yet  it  accomplished  an  important  and  effective  mission  in 
relation  to  the  Baptists  of  Greenville. 


::.,..!■■•:  -;■  u:''  .:  ^judfi  -noYi  it.iunii 
dT  ..,,:•-:,.••  -?i:  duii'nVf  v>v;v33  OJ  : 
.:!'':Uj  i  '     ..": '.'■^.'.  "?  Ivy.'-.-  "  "     ii'/-^- 


'^' 


■^.  :  liijiiilni-u-     • 

;(]*;.;-,;. J-   ii  jHg;jo;.. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Sbcaf^lc^ville* 


1     BEGAN  my  pastorate  here  October  14th,  1877  by  preach- 
ing fiom  Psahn  36.  7,8,  in  the  morning  and  in  the  even- 
ing from  John  12,  20,21. 

Sheakleyville  is  a  country  village  about  four  miles  from 
Hadley  station  in  Mercer  County.  The  late  deacon  Isaac 
Philips  told  me  that  the  first  sermon  was  preached  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Sheakleyville  by  Elder  David  Phillips  of  Peter's 
Creek  near  Pittsburgh,  from  John  i,  23  -this  occurred  about 
the  close  of  the  i8th  century — the  sermon  was  preached  about 
two  miles  west  of  the  village  in  a  farm  house  owned  when  I 
was  there  by  Thomas  Phillips.  Later,  the  Rev.  Thomas  G. 
Jones  came  to  them  once  a  month  from  Sharon  for  18  dollars 
a  year  :  he  had  also  24  miles  to  travel  through  the  woods.  The 
church  was  formed  as  a  branch  of  Sharon  in  1S17,  and  organ- 
ised as  an  Independent  church  in  1831.  In  1834  ^^^y  began 
to  build  their  first  meeting  house  and  finished  it  in  1839 — 
they  worshipped  in  the  old  chapel  until  1875,  when  the  pre- 
sent meeting  house  was  erected  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  N. 
Thomas.  Such  was  the  pleasant  condition  of  the  church 
when  I  went  there  in  1877.  After  I  left  Greenville  some  of  the 
members  of  the  Greenville  church  thought  it  advisable  to  or- 
ganise a  church  on  the  west  side  of  Greenville  ;  this  was  effected 
Saturday  evening,  January  26th,   1878,  at  the  home  of  Bro. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  47 

Alfred  Hanson.  I  took  charge  of  the  little  church  in  con- 
nection with  Sheakleyville,  and  preached  for  them  every  al- 
ternate Sabbath  in  a  little  hall  above  Mr.  Austin's  Jeweller's 
Stores. 

March  4th,  1878  a  council  met  at  Greenville  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  recognising  the  Tabernacle  Baptist  Church  as  a 
regular  Baptist  Church.  After  the  usual  examinations,  the 
council  recognised  them,  and  held  recognition  services  in  the 
evening  as  follows — 

Introductory  services,  Rev.  John  T   Griffith. 
Sermon,  Rev.  Fred  Evans,  D.D.,  of  Franklin  from   Col.  iii. 
3.  4- 

Charge  to  the  church,  Rev.  W.  M.  Young,  D.D.  of  Mead- 
ville. 

Hand  of  fellowship.  Rev.  W.  B.  Skinner  of  Jamestown. 

Benediction,  Rev.  John  T.  Griffith. 

Sept.  i8th,  1878,  the  French  Creek  Association  met  at 
Linesville  at  which  the  Tabernacle  church  was  received  as 
a  member  of  the  association. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  constituent  members — 

Messrs.  T.  A.  Hanson,  David  Harris,  William  Thomas, 
Frank  Horner,  Misses  Clara  Austin,  Adella  Austin,  Maggie 
Eckles,  Emma  Loutzenlieser,  Mrs.  T.  A.  Hanson,  Mrs. 
Hattie  Mornoweck,  Mrs.  Macmahan,  Mrs  Viola  Signor,  Mrs. 
Matilda  Morford.  Mrs  Davies,  Miss  Emma  Davies,  Mrs. 
Knapenberger,  Mrs  Sadie  Harris,  Miss  Sadie  Morford,  Mrs. 
William  Thomas,  Misses  Amanda  Seylor,  Emma  Clark  and 
M.  L.  Clark. 

They  went  to  work  in  earnest,  bought  a  lot,  and  built  a 
little  church  home  on  the  west  side  of  Greenville. 

The  first  services  were  held  in  the  new  church  on  the  fol- 
lowing dates  : — - 

Sunday,  September  28th,  1879,  I  preached  from  Isaiah 
52,  I,  and  Romans  i,  16.  Monday  evening  the  29th,  Rev.  R. 
Pearce  of  Springboro  preached  from  Luke  12,  32.,  "  Fear  not, 
little  flock,  &c."     The  dedicatory  services  were  held  Tuesday, 


48  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

afternoon  and  evening,  the  30th  of  Sept.,  when  the  following 
ministers  preached — Rev,  .George  Whitman  of  Meadville, 
from  Zech.  4,  6.  and  in;  the  evening.  Rev.  Fred  Evans,  D.D. 
of  Franklin,  P.A.,  from  Revelation  v.,  the  whole  chapter. 
Wednesday  evening.  Oct.  1st,  Rev.  T.  J.  Bristow  of  Sharps- 
ville  preached  from  I  Peter  ii.  9,  "A  Royal  Priesthood." 

Thursday  evening,  Oct.  2nd,  Rev.  Fred  Evans,  D.D. 
lectured  on  ''  Steps  to  Success." 

Friday  evening,  Oct.  3rd,  Rev.  W.  B.  Skinner  of  James- 
town, Pa.,  preached  from  I  John,  i,  7,  "The  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  His  Son  cleanseth  from  all  sin." 

We  had  an  excellent  series  of  meetings.  Able  sermons 
were  preached  by  the  brethren,  and  the  Lord  was  with 
them. 

I  continued  to  preach  for  them  in  connection  with 
Sheakleyville,  until  Sunday,  March  14,  1880,  when  I 
preached  my  last  sermons  from  II  Thes.  i.  10,  and  Exodus  13, 
20-22. 

Between  my  services  with  the  old  church  and  the 
Tabernacle  church  I  preached  four  years  in  Greenville, 
and  though  I  passed  through  some  severe  trials  there  yet 
I  thank  God  for  his  sustainmg  grace. 

I  continued  at  Sheakleyville  until  February  20th,  1881, 
when  I  preached  my  last  sermons'  from  Proverbs  4,  18,  and 
Daniel  6,  10.  I  had  preached  fof  them  three  years  and 
five  months,  and  had  a  very  pleasant  pastorate  '    . 

They  had  among  them  some  of  the  most  intelligent  men 
and  women  I  ever  met :  the  Phillips',  the  McCoys,  the 
Morrisons,  the  Beals,  &c.  I  love  to  think  of  them.  When 
I  left  them  the  church  adopted  the  following  resolutions  of 
respect : — 

RESOLUTIONS. 


Whereas  our  pastor j  Bro  J.  T.  Griffiths  has  tendered 
his  resignation  believing  that  duty  calls  him  to 
labour  in  another  field. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  49 

Resolved  that  the  Georgetown*  Baptist  Church  records 
rts  high  esteem  of  tlie  Reverend  J.  T.  Griffiths,  as  a 
Gentleman,  a  Citizen,  a  Christian,  and  a  Pastor. 

Resolved  that  in  parting  with  Bro.  Griffiths  we  feel  that 
we  loose  a  faithful  and  efficient  Pastor  whose  labors 
we  shall  always  remember  with  gratitude  and 
love. 

Resolved  that  we  esteem  him  a  highly  exemplary  brother 
and  worthy  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  while  we 
regret  his  departure  from  us  we  shall  pray  that  God 
may  bless  his  labors  in  that  part  of  the  vineyard  to 
which  He  has  called  him." 

Levi  Morrison,  \ 

J.  W.  Philips,   >    Committee. 

Wm.  McCoy.        ) 

The  above  resolutions   reported   and   adopted   at  a  regular 
church  meeting  Feb.  20,   1881.  —" 

Len.  Morrison, 

Church  Clerk. 
D.   Isaac  Phillips, 

Moderator. 

A  Correct  Copy — (Len.  Morrison,  Ch.  Clerk.) 
.Oct.  9,  1890. 


*The  Baptist  Church  at  Sheakleyville  is  known  as  the  Georgetown 
Baptist  Church. — J.T.G. 


<t/3^K^ 


CHAPTER     X. 


Sharon— Ibarmon^  ant)  Scottbalc, 


WEDNESDAY,  February  23,  1881,  I  removed  my  family 
to  Sharon,  Pa.,  where  I  had  accepted  a  call  from  the 
Welsh  Baptist  Church  to  preach  half  my  time  in  connection 
with  Harmony  in  Lawrence  Co.,  seven  miles  out  in  the  coun- 
try from  New  Castle.  I  had  commenced  my  pastorate  at 
Harmony  since  May  i,  1880,  in  connection  with  Sheakleyville, 
but  the  distance  between  the  two  churches  was  tQo  great.  As 
soon  as  I  was  settled  at  Sharon  we  entered  earnestly  into  the 
work  of  renovating  the  meeting  house  by  painting  it,  refur- 
nishing it,  fencing  the  lot,  &c.,  at  an  expense  of  over  300,00 
dollars,  all  of  which  was  raised  durmg  the  summer  of  1881. 
The  reopening  services  were  held  August  27  and  28,  when  the 
following  ministers  officiated  : — Revs.  David  Proberts,  Youngs- 
town,  Ohio ;  Edward  Jenkins,  Palmyra,  Ohio ;  David  Evans, 
Wheatland,  Pa.;  Thomas  Jenkins  (Cong.),  Sharon,  Pa.,  and 
the  writer.  I  laboured  at  Harmony  until  April  30,  1882.  This 
was  an  excellent  little  church.  I  found  them  very  kind.  My 
last  sermons  to  them  were  from  i  John  iii.  2,  and  from  v.  20. 

I  baptized  twenty-four  there.  I  stayed  at  Sharon  and  Har- 
mony until  August  27,  1882,  when  I  closed  my  labours  to  go 
to  Scottdale,  Pa.  My  last  texts  were  Phil.  ii.  6-1 1,  and  John 
xvii.    24. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  5I 

At  the  close  of  my  last  sermon  the  church  unanimously  adop- 
ted the  following  resolutions  : — 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  RESPECT. 

1.  That  we  express  our  great  loss  at  the  departure  of  our 
honored  and  active  pastor,  for  in  losing  him,  we  lose  an  affec- 
tionate brother,  an  earnest  worker,  an  honest  man,  a  faithful 
friend,  and  an  apt  teacher. 

2.  That  his  ministry  among  us  has  been  a  success  in  every 
sense  of  the  word. 

3.  That  we  urge  the  brethren  at  Scottdale  to  co-operate  with 
our  brother  in  the  good  work,  and  we  will  pray  with  them  for 
the  success  of  our  Blessed  King. 

4.  That  we  present  our  brother  and  his  family  to  their  ten 
derest  care,  and  to  the  care  of  our  Lord  and  his  Christ,  and 
that  they  may  receive  the  comfort  and  strength  of  the  other 
Comforter  is  our  wish. 


On  behalf  of  the  church, 

Deacons. 


David  Thomas,  ) 

Lewis  Williams,       | 


John   Deveraux,  Clerk. 
Sunday  evening,  August  27th,  1882. 

The  above  was  published  in  Welsh  in  "  The  Dawn  "  of  Oc- 
tober, 1882,  pp.  225,  226,  and  has  been  translated. 

I  had  now  laboured  twelve  years  as  a  missionary  in  Mercer 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  during  that  time  had  been  instrumental  in  buil- 
ding three  churches  and  four  meeting  houses,  and  in  re-estab- 
lishing the  cause  at  Greenville,  besides  doing  a  great  deal  of 
evangelistic  work  in  other  churches  besides  those  of  which  I 
was  pastor.     God  be  praised  ! 


SCOTTDALE. 

I  began  my  pastorate  here  Sept.  i,  1882.  I  did  not  preach 
the  first  Sunday  at  Scottdale,  because  the  Monangahela  Asso- 
ciation was  held  Sept.  2 — 4  at  Taylortown  Green  Co.,  Pa., 
and  we  were  all  there.  It  was  the  Jubilee  meeting  of  the 
Association. 


152  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

'  Sunday,  Sept.  loth,  I  preached  my  first  sermons  as  pastor 
from  Ephesians  i.  7,  and  John  xvii.  24.  This  was  a  re-opening 
day.  The}'  had  been  renovating?  the  church  inside  and  outside 
at  an  expense  of  about  400.00  dollars,  so  it. was  my  pleasant  duty 
,and  privilege  to  preach  the  re-opening  sermons.  We  had  a 
.very  good  day,  aad  raised  about  265.00  dollars  towards  tlie 
expenses. 

At  the  first  communion  I  administered  they  had  a  glass 
communion  set.  At  that  time  the  "  National  Baptist"  gave  a 
silver  set  as  a  premium  for  fourteen  nanies.  I  made  the  fact 
known  to  them  and  raised  the  required  amount  for  the  "National 
Baptist,"  which  secured  the  communion  set  for  the  church, 
which  we  used  at  the  next  communion  season.  Also,  I  raised 
Enough  of  names  for  the  same  paper  to  secure;  Matthew 
Henry's  Commentaries  to  myself.  We  immediately  entered 
upon  a  series  of  special  meetings  and  preached  every  night  for 
"Seven  weeks^  and  we  had  good  meetings.  One  of  the  best 
brothers  I  ever  met  as  an  helper  in  the  way  of  singing  and  ex- 
horting was  Bro.  George  H.  Sewell,  who  had  charge  of  the  sing- 
ing. During  the  first  quarter  I  preached  104  sermons,  baptized 
27,  and  made  300  pastoral  visits.  In  the  summer  of  1883  1  visited 
Wales,  my  native  land,  in  company  with  Rev.  Fred.  Evans, 
D.D.,  and  during  that  visit  I  received  a  unanimous  call  from 
the  English  Baptist  Church  of  Treorky,  Rhondda  Valley,  and 
after  my  return  I  fully  intended  to  go  back  to  Wales,  hence  I  re- 
signed at  Scottdale  March,  1884,  and  closed  my  labours  March 
23,  1884,  when  I  preached  from  Hebrews  iv.  14,  and  Col.  i.  18. 

I  had  a  pleasant  pastorate  here.  At  the  close  of  the  meet- 
ing I  was  presented  with  a  purse  of  money  of  23.00  dollars, 
and  the  following  resolutions  of  respect :  — 

At  the  regular  service  of  the  Scottdale  Baptist  Church, 
Sabbath  evening,  March  23,  1884,  the  following  pre- 
amble and  resolutions  were  adopted  . — 

Whereas  our  pastor,  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith,  having  re- 
ceived a  call  from  his  native  country  (Wales),  and, 
having  resigned  the  pastorate  of  this  church,  in  order 
that  he  might  accept  the  same  ;  and  whereas,  we  hav- 
ing accepted  the  resignation,  which  severs  our  rela- 
tion as  pastor  and  people,  w-ith  feelings  of  sadness  ; 
therefore  be  it— 

..   ^.'Resolved,  that  the  eighteen    months' faithful  service  ren- 
:■..'.  .....   dered  by  him  to  this  people  have  been  greatly  blessed 

:j-.   jj  ^:  in    the  upbuilding  of  .our  church    and  increasing,  Jts 
membership.  u..l.- :  .  •.    • 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  55 

Resolved,  that  for  his  ministering  to  the  temporal  and 
-  spiritual  needs  of  all ;  for  the  earnest  sympathy  which 
has  brought  him  to  the  bedside  of  the  sick  ;  for  his 
efforts  in  behalf  of  the  education  of  the  masses ;  and 
for  his  exertions  to  better  the  conditions  of  humanity 
imder  all  circumstances,  the  members  of  this  church, 
and  the  people  of  this  community  owe  him  their  grati- 
tude and  respect. 

Resolved,  that  in  parting;  oiir  kindest  wishes  shall  ever 
attend  him,  and  that  we  recommend  him  to  the  people 
to  whom  he  shall  minister  as  one  worthy  of  their 
confidence  and  esteem.. 

Wm.  W.   Eicher, 

Mrs.  Anna  Sturgis, 
•,'.'*■'      >'- ■  Miss  Maggie   White,' )>  Committee. 

Jos.    K.    ElCHER, 

Geo.   R.  Sewell, 

P.S. — The  Scottdale  Baptist  Clmrch  was  founded  April  17^ 
1875,  through  the  instrumentality  of  Rev.  David  Williams, 
then  of  Pennsville.  The  land  to  build  the  meeting  house  on 
was  given  by  Mr.  Wm.  M:'Everson,     The  meeting  house  was 

opened  May  9,  1876 — ^j.  Ttvo.'^-'*  i /."' • -'^^  ■    '  .- 

:       .         •:    ,■         .     .  ■■  1&  r'-^-i'^in  biiuoi  5  iii.v  '  .■.   .ju^^b^vi  >-'■!. 

*"/■  I0   ■".:■    n\i-^iii   «sdt    !•)  ,-ii>.iii-rl:-iaa¥i  /•■JoiuO  U'vAlvrdhP. 


:■X^I  «;■ 

i  il05;d  zd 

>,-.  --i-'ji 

h  ^cJ, 

;^«!?::'?  1 

"  ^alJV/iJil 
kH    'I  .1 

■  "; 

■  :.--j   Ij.iji    i.-r 

.....^ 

§3 

rte; 

^ih     ,,3^Jf     -i-'' 

.,  '■    ':■,'    '■> 

":            "  ■ 

.-^  J    -    - 

;...  .VrT  i^V-iil:    ' 

CHAPTER  XI. 


riDabanop  Cit^  anb  ipi^moutb  riDecting. 


WHEN  I  left  Scottdale  my  intention  was  to  go  to  Wales, 
but  all  at  once  my  plans  were  changed,  and  in  the 
Providence  of  God  I  found  myself  at  Mahanoy  City.  This 
city  with  a  population  of  12,000  (in  1884)  is  situated  in 
Schnylkill  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  main  line  of  the 
Reading  R.  R. 

Baptist  preaching  dates  as  far  back  as  1866.  Rev.  B.  W. 
Thomas  baptized  three  here  April  29th,  1866.  May  12 — 14 
— the  Welsh  Baptist  Church  was  organised  and  their  meet- 
ing house  dedicated.  The  following  ministers  officiated:  — 
B.  W.  Thomas,  A.  J.  Morton,  J.  P.  Harris,  W.  Morgans,  A. 
J.  Hey,  &€.,  see  ^' Seren  Orllewinol."  The  Rev.  Theophilus 
Jones  was  their  first  pastor,  March  17th,  1867.  The  English 
Baptist  Church  of  Mahanoy  City  was  organized  and  con- 
tinued until  1877.  The  cause  of  its  dissolution  was  the 
panic  of  1875,  so  that  when  I  began  my  ministry  there  with 
the  Welsh  Baptist  Church  in  May,  1884,  the  Welsh  and  the 
English  were  together,  which  made  it  necessary  for  me  to 
preach  in  Welsh  and  English,  as  had  been  done  by  some  of 
my  predecessors.     I  continued  to  do  this  for  six  months. 

Friday  evening,  October  5th,  1884,  a  special  business 
meeting  was  held  to  consider  the  propriety  and  necessity  of 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  55 

organizing  an  English  Baptist  Church,  when  it  was  decided 
to  do  so  if  satisfactory  arrangements  could  be  made — in 
order  to  make  these  arrangements,  committees  were  ap- 
pointed to  represent  both  the  English  and  the  Welsh,  and 
after  several  meetings  they  decided  to  organize  the  English 
Church,  Sunday  evening,  Nov.  i6th,  1884.  I  preached  from 
Hebrews  lo  :  25  ;  and  after  the  sermon  we  organized  the 
present  English  Baptist  Church  of  Mahanoy  City — 14  by 
letters — 6  by  baptism — 6  by  restoration — 26  in  all. 

December  4th,  1884,  a  Council  met  representing  nine 
churches  to  consider  the  propriety  of  recognizing  this  body 
as  a  regular  Baptist  Church.  Rev.  W.  H.  Conard,  D.D.^ 
Philadelphia  was  appointed  Moderator,  and  the  Rev.  W. 
G.  Watkins,  Shamokin,  Clerk.  After  having  heard  the 
history  of  the  Church  and  its  Confession  of  Faith,  the 
Council  decided  unanimously  to  recognize  it  ;  at  seven  the 
same  evening  the  public  recognition  services  were  held. 
Opening  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wood  (Pres.),  sermon  by 
the  Rev.  W.  H.  Conard,  D.D.,  from  Matt.  16  :  18,  hand  of 
fellowship  by  the  same  to  Mr.  Thomas  Rogers.  The  same 
evening  two  deacons  were  ordained,  Mr.  Eli  S.  Reinhold 
and  Mr.  Wheatly  ;  the  prayer  of  ordination  was  offered  by 
the  Rev.  W.  D.  Thomas,  and  the  charge  was  given  by  the 
Rev.  W.  O.  Owen,  benediction  by  Dr.  Conard.  This  was 
a  memorable  day.  After  the  organization  of  the  English 
Church,  both  churches  English  and  Welsh  continued  to 
worship  in  the  Welsh  Baptist  Chapel  until  the  spring  when 
the  English  rented  a  hall,  and  before  the  end  of  summer 
they  built  a  meeting  house  on  the  upper  end  of  Main  Street. 

The  last  Sunday  of  April,  1885,  1  gave  up  both  churches 
to  accept  a  call  from  Plymouth  .Meeting,  Pa.,  where  I  be- 
gan the  first  Sunday  in  May.  Monday  evening,  April  27th, 
a  farewell  meeting  was  held—  chairman,  Mr.  T.  J.  Edwards 
— speakers.  Revs.  D.  S.  Thomas,  M.A.,  Thomas  Evans, 
F.  Teilo  Evans  (Cong.),  Humphreys  (Cong.)— a  happy 
meeting.  Tuesday,  April  28th,  we  left  Mahanoy  City  for 
Plymouth  Meeting 

In  September,  1885,  the  annual  meetings  of  the  Reading 
Association  were  held  with  the  first  Baptist  Church  of 
Reading,  Pa.,  and  inasmuch  as  this  was  the  association 
into  which  the  English  Church  of  Mahanoy  City  expected 
to  be  received,  I  went  to  the  meetings  of  the  association. 


56  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

They  were  gladly  received,  and  after  having  been  received 
they  appealed  for  aid  to  pay  the  debt  on  their  meeting 
house,  and  for  this  purpose  the  Missionary  Committee  of 
the  association  came  to  me  and  asked  me  if  I  would  visit 
the  churches  in  the  interest  of  Mahanoy  Citv,  I  consented 
with  their  request  and  spent  my  vacation  weeks  in  October 
in  going  through  the  churches  and  raised  about  300  dollars, 
enough  to  pay  the  debt. 

I  was  very  comfortable  at  Plymouth  Meeting — it  was  an 
old  church,  and  the  people  were  very  kind,  and  near  Phila- 
delphia where  I  enjoyed  so  many  privileges — yet  the 
officers  of  the  state  association  were  very  anxious  for  me 
to  return  to  Mahanoy  City  for  a  while  to  aid  the  English 
church — at  last  they  prevailed  and  I  returned  in  July,  1887. 
I  spent  two  very  happy  years  at  Plymouth  Meeting.  I 
baptised  29  the're  and  improveinents  were  made  on  the 
meeting  house — in  April,  1886,  the  church  bought  nearly 
an  acre  of  land  and  a  house  on  it  from  Mrs.  Smith  at  an 
expense  of  nearly  two  thousand  dollars,  in  order  to  enlarge 
the  graveyard  and  to  have  a  parsonage  for  the  pastor. 
This  action  was  of  great  benefit  to  the  church,  as  it  pre- 
served its  front  view  and  greatly  improved  the  prosperity. 
The  money  needed  for  this  enterprise  was  borrowed  from 
deacon  Jonathan  Bataroff — 1,700  dollars — and  before  he 
died  he  willed  the  unpaid  balance  of  the  loan  to  the 
church,  which  was  about  the  half,  and  at  the  yearly  meet- 
ing of  the  Cold  Point  Church — (that  was  the  name  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Plymouth  Meeting),  August  30th,  1905, 
the  mortgage  was  burnt,  and  it  was  my  privilege  to  have  a 
share  in  the  service — so  that  the  church  had  all  this  property 
very  cheap.  When  I  left  them  resolutions  of  respect  were 
adopted  by  the  church  and  signed  by  the  committee — Moses 
Pierce,  Charles  W.  Lewis  and  S.  H.  Freas — kinder  people  I 
never  met  with. 

I  remained  at  Mahanoy  City  the  second  time  until  April, 
1888,  when  I  accepted  a  call  to  Lansdale. 

I  had  a  faithful  band  of  workers  at  Mahanoy  City  and 
among  them  Mr.  Eli  S.  Reinhold,  cashier  of  the  Union 
National  Bank  of  Mahanoy  City,  a  noble  man. 

'  When  I  left  them  I   was  presented  with  a  gold  headed 
cane  and  other  tokens  of  respect. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  57 

I  will  close  this  chapter  with  the  following  resolutions — 
MAHANOY  CITY. 


The  first  is  from  the  Welsh  church — 

Mahanoy  City,  Penna., 

April  26th,  1885. 
From — 

The  Welsh  Baptist  Church  of  Mahanoy 
City. 
To-  * 
■::-.'  The    Baptist    Church   in    Cold    Point, 

'  "■  Penna. 

This  is  to  certify  that  our  esteemed  Brother  and  late 
Pastor  the  Rev.  John  T.  Griffiths  has  been  Pastor 
of  this  church  for  the  past  12  months. 

We  found  him  to  be  a  good  Minister  and  an  excellent 
Pastor,  and  therefore  can  fully  recommend  him  to 
you  as  such,  and  as  one  worthy  your  confidence 
and  esteem,  may  the  blessing  of  God  rest  on  his 
labors  with  you. 

Done  by  order  of  the  church,  April  26th,  1885. 

David  W.  Jenkins,   | 

Evan  H.  John,  r  Deacons. 

Llewelyn  Beddow, 

John  J.  McCarthy,  Church  Clerk. 


The  second  is  from  the  English  church  : 

Mahanoy  City,  Pa., 
■  :  April  21st,  1885. 

To  whom  it  may  concern —  ,       . 

This  is  to  certify  that  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffiths  has  been  the 
pastor  of  the  English  Baptist  Church  for  six 
months,  and  that  his  resignation  is  accepted  with 
painful  reluctance.      During  his'  residence   in  our 


58  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

midst  he  has  won  the  confidence  of  all  who  know 
him,  and  his  private  life  has  ever  emphasised  what 
his  preaching  inculcated. 

As  an  English  church,  we  owe  to  him  our  existence  and 
growth,  as  far  as  either  is  dependent  on  human 
agencies.  He  leaves  the  Church  united,  and  with 
the  good  wishes  of  every  member.  We  congratu- 
late the  church  to  which  he  transfers  his  labors,  on 
the  excellent  character  and  devoted  zeal  that  will 
characterise  their  new  pastor. 

The  prayers  and  hearty  good  wishes  of  the  Baptist 
church  at  Mahanoy  City,  go  with  him  and  his, 
and  in  token  of  his  highly  acceptable  services  with 
us,  the  church  has  unanimously  caused  this  letter 
to  be  adopted. 

By  the  church, 

Eli  G.  Reinhold, 

Moderator. 

RiCHD.  R.  Webb, 

Secretary. 


PLYMOUTH  MEETING. 

At   the   regular   services    of    the    Cold    Point     Baptist 
Church  held  Sabbath  Morning,  June  5th,    1887,  the  follow 
ing  preamble  and  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

Whereas  our  pastor.  Rev.  John  T.  Griffith  has  resigned 
the  pastorate  of  this  church  to  accept  a  call  from 
the  church  at  Mahanoy  City,  a  former  field  of 
labor  ;  and  the  church  having  accepted  his 
resignation,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved  that  it  is  with  much  regret  that  we  part  with 
him,  feeling  that  his  labours  in  our  midst  for  the 
past  two  years  have  been  blessed  by  the  Lord  in 
the  upbuilding  and  strengthening  of  the  church  in 
this  place  ;     And  be  it 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  59 

Resolved   that    his  earnest   efforts    for    the    spiritual 

'   welfare  of  the  people  of  this  community  and  his 

ready  sympathy  with  the   sick   and   afflicted   are 

duly  appreciated,  and  have  endeared  him  to  us  : 

and  be  it  further 

Resolved,  that  it  is  only  with  the  feeling  that  the  Lord 
has  called  him  to  another  field  of  labor  in  which 
his  services  are  greatly  needed,  that  we  can  recon- 
cile ourselves  to  sever  the  tie  that  binds  us  to- 
gether as  pastor  and  people,  and  that  he  has  our 
kindest  wishes  for  his  future  prosperity. 

Hoping  that  we  may  all  meet  at  last  in  the  Celestial 
City,  we  shall  ever  remember  his  labors  among 
us  with  pleasure. 


Moses  Peirce,  )      ^  ... 

Charles  W.  Lewis,  ^     Committee 
S.  H.  Freas.  )  ^"  resolutions. 


-^ 


.;l;  1    .!   .:-.j:K:..:-i       .    :.    ..a;,\  ,.i\,.  .    .iriiCiiub 


ai   0.L- 


Xan6^alc. 


As  I  stated  in  my  sketcli  of  Mahanoy  City,  I  went  from 
Cold  Point  to  Plymouth  Meeting  the  last  of  June,  1S87, 
and  stayed  there  until  the  last  of  March,  1888,  when  I  accepted 
the  call  from  Lansdale,  Montgomery  Co.,   Pa. 

Lansdale  is  situated  in  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania, 
on  the  North  Penn  R.  R.,  about  twenty-seven  miles  from 
Philadelphia.  It  is  surrounded  by  historic  Welsh  associations 
such  as  Gwynedd,  Penllyn,  on  one  side.  Montgomery  church 
founded  by  the  celebrated  Rev.  Abel  Morgan  of  Blaenau  South 
Wales,  in  1719,  and  Hillstown  founded  by  the  noted  Elder 
William  Thomas,  who  came  to  Philadelphia  from  Llanwen- 
arth  in  17 12.  Lansdale  is  a  direct  descendant  of  the  above 
churches  through  North  Wales.  It  was  founded  as  a  branch  of 
North  Wales  church  by  the  Rev,  j.  A.  Aldred,  then  pastor  of 
the  North  Wales  church.    .,    .    ,  j. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  North  Philadelphia  Association  of 
1886,  p.  430,  we  find  the  following  facts  respectmg  Landsdale  —  ' 
"  The  Landsdale  Church  was  commenced  as  a* mission  of  the 
North  Wales  Church  in  April,  1883,  ^Y  Bro.  J.  A.  Aldred,  their 
pastor,  upon  whose  labors  the  Lord  smiled,  and  a  number  put 
on  Christ  by  baptism.  In  the  winter  of  1884  an  effort  was 
made  to  secure  mean*^  for  erecting  a  chapel,  and  encouraged 
by  friends  the  North  Wales  Church  resolved  to  build.  A  lot 
was  purchased  and  a  neat  chapel  was  erected  and  opened  for 
public  worship  March  15th,  1S85,  ^"^    Bro.  Aldred  continued 


RE'mINISCENCES— AMERICA.  '  6 1 

to  preach  for  theni  lintil  he  closed  his  labors  with  the  North 
Wales  Ohurch.  The  number  of  believers  increased  to  about 
thirty,  when  it  was  concluded  to  organize  a  regular  Baptist 
Church.  Letters  of  dismission,  were  granted  by  the  parent 
church,  and  on  the  15th  of  Feb.,  1866,  the  organization  was 
effected." 

THE  CONSTITUENT  MEMBERS.         •     , 

Following  is  the  list  of  constituent  members  of  the  first  Bap- 
tist Church,  Landsdale,  Pa.,  at  its  organization  February  15, 
1886  :—AJlen  Thomas,  Mrs.  Allen  Thomas,  Mr.  David  Van- 
neman,  Mr.  A.  K.  Thomas,  Mrs.  A.  K.  Thomas,  Mr.  U.  S. 
Beaver,  Mrs.  U.  S.  Beaver,  Mr.  George  Hallovvell,  Mrs.  Geo.; 
Hallowell,  Mr.  John  F.  Cresson,  Mr.  J.  F.  Garner,  Mrs.  J.  F. 
Garner,  Mr.  S.  D  Hull,  Mrs  S.  D.Hull,  Miss  Minnie  Cassel, 
Mr.  William  Fly,  Miss  Mary  Fly,  Miss  Lizzie  Fly,  Miss  Mary 
Laudner,  Mrs.  Ella  George,  Miss  Minnie  Weikel,  Miss  Anna 
Mushbach,  Mr.  Morris  George,  Mrs.  Morris  George, 
Miss  Mame  Beaver,  Miss  Bertha  Beaver,  Mrs.  Annie. 
Brunner,  Mrs.  Matilda  Morris,  Mrs.  Lillian  Beidler,  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Layman,  Mrs.  Mary  Garner,  Mr.  Charles  Moore, 
Mrs.  Charles  Moore,  Mrs.  Sarah  Singerly,  Mrs.  Wiehminah 
Kockersperger,  Mr.  Isaac  Hunsicker,  Mrs.  Isaac  Hunsicker, 
Mrs.  Prescilla  Johnson,  Mrs.  Pauline  Mushbach,  Miss  Carrie 
Hunsicker,  Eliarn  Davies,  Miss  Mattie  Cresson. 

The  Thomases  named  above  are  direct  descendants  of  Elder 
William  Thomas  of  Hillsdown. 

THE  RECOGNITION  SERVICES. 

The  council  of  Baptist  churches  called  to  consider  the  recog- 
nition of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Lansdale,  Pa.,  met  in  the 
Baptist  Chapel,  Lansdale,  Thursday,  May  13,  1886.  Council 
convened  at  3  p.m.,  and  Rev.  N.  B.  Baldwin  of  Montgomery 
Baptist  Church  was  elected  Moderator,  and  Bro.  A.  K.Thomas 
of  Lansdale,  Clerk.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  J.  A.  Aldred 
of  Ridley  Park  Baptist  Church.  The  following  churches  were 
represented  in  the  council  : — New  Britain,  Pastor  N.  C.  Fetter 
and  Bros.  John  Jacob}' and  Benjamin  Schuyler  ;  Montgomery, 
Pastor  Baldwin  and  Bros.  Bender  and  Leach  and  Charles 
Napp,  licentiate  ;  First  Norristown,  Pastor  Randall  and  Bro. 
Johnson  ;  Mount  Pleasant,  Pastor  Sagebeer  and  Bros.  Wil- 
liam C.  Walker  and  Christian  Duffield ;  jenkintown,  Pastor 
Shoemaker  and  Bro.  Josiah  Phillips  by  letter  ;  Hatboro,  Pastor 
Hutchinson  and  Bros.  Rorer  and  Walton ;  Grace  Church, 
Philadelphia,  Pastor    Conwell  .and   Bros.  Reed    and    Bitting; 


62  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

North  Wales,  Bro.  John  M.  Harley  ;  Ridley  Park,  Pastor 
Aldred,  late  pastor  of  North  Wales  Church  and  the  Lansdale 
Mission. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Conwell  the  visitig  brethren  were  invited 
to  sit  with  council  in  its  deliberations.  Rev.  L.  G.  Beck  read 
a  brief  history  of  the  church  and  answered  inquiries  con- 
cerning its  outlook — financial  and  spiritual.  He  said  there  was 
a  membership  of  about  40,  and  a  debt  of  something  over  2,00a 
dollars  on  the  property.  The  recognition  services  were  held  in 
the  evening  as  follows  : — Opening  services  by  Moderator ;  ser- 
mon by  Rev.  Russel  H.  Conwell ;  recognition  prayer.  Rev. 
Sagebeer;  hand  of  fellowship,  Rev.  Hutchinson  ;  charge  to  pas- 
tor. Rev.  N.  B.  Randall ;  charge  to  church,  Rev.  J.  A.  Aldred.. 

March,  1886,  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  Levi  G.  Beck 
of  Philadelphia,  who  began  his  labors  with  the  first  Sunday  of 
April,  1886.  Brother  Beck  labored  faithfully  and  earnestly  for 
their  welfare,  but  advanced  age  and  diminishing  physical 
strength  compelled  him  to  cease  active  work  as  their  pastor 
July,  1887.  He  left  an  excellecnt  memory  at  Lansdale  and  in 
all  other  places. 

At  the  invitation  of  the  church  I  preached  for  them  the  first 
time  Sunday,  Feb.  12,  1888,  and  also  the  Monday  and  Tues- 
day evenings  following.  I  stayed  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Amos- 
van  Fossen,  one  of  the  successful  merchants  of  the  place,  who 
also  with  his  faithful  wife  were  pillars  in  the  church.  Feb. 
29th,  I  accepted  the  unanimous  call  which  made  me  be- 
come their  pastor.  I  was  then  at  Mahanoy  city.  The  first 
Sunday  of  April,  1888  I  began  my  pastoral  work  among  them. 
They  gave  us  a  very  cordial  welcome. 

Tuesday  evening,  April  24th,  a  public  meeting  of  welcome  was 
held,  when  the  following  brethren  officiated.  Chairman,  Rev.  H. 
Colchessor,  North  Wales;  reading  of  scripture,  Rev.  G.  Evans, 
Manayank  ;  prayer,  Rev.  N.  B.  Baldwin,  ex-pastor  of  Mont- 
gomery;  sermon,  Rev.  Fred  Evans,  D.D.,  loth  Philadelphia; 
charge  to  the  church.  Rev.  John  Miller,  Doylestown  ;  charge 
to  the  pastor.  Rev.  J.  L.  Plush  Montgomery.  Selections  by 
the  choir  :  bro.  M.  S.  Beaver  at  the  organ.     Happy  meeting. 

I  entered  upon  my  work  amid  joyful   prospects.      I   should 
like  to  give  details  of  the  threee  happy  years  I   spent  here— 
but  space  will  not  permit.     The  following  summary  will  give 
an  idea,  which  I    gave  them   after   I   closed    my   labors    Feb^ 
22nd,  1891. 


REMINISCENCES AMERICA.  63 

TO     THE     MEMBERS    OF     THE     FIRST     BAPTIST 
CHURCH,     LANSDALE. 


Dear  Brethren : 

In  closing  my  labors  with  you  as  pastor,  I  have 
thought  that  a  brief  summary  of  facts  respecting  the  work 
that  we  have  endeavoured  to  do  among  you  might  be  of 
interest  to  you  and  many  others,  though  I  do  not  believe 
that  the  results  of  Christian  work  can  be  set  forth  in 
figures. 

I,       PULPIT    AND    PASTORAL    WORK. 

(a).  Number  of  sermons  preached,  429. 
(b).  Pastoral  and  religious  visits,  2243. 
(c).     Persons  baptized,  27. 

2.       SOCIETIES    ORGANISED     FOR     THE     DEVELOPMENT     OF     THE 

INTELLECTUAL    AND    SPIRITUAL    POWER    OF     THE 

CHURCH. 

(a).  Friday  evening,  April  13,  1888,  we  organised  the 
Friday  evening  Bible  Class.  The  pastor  was  appointed 
teacher.  Brother  A.  K.  Thomas  assistant  teacher,  and 
Miss  Laura  VanFossen  clerk.  We  have  gone  through  the 
Acts  and  Matthew.  Eternity  alone  can  show  the  results 
of  these  Friday  evening  meetings,  as  we  have  endeavored 
to  teach  the  distinctive  principles  of  Christianity,  as  taught 
and  practiced  by  the  apostles. 

(b).  Monday  afternoon,  March  31,  1890,  the  Women's 
Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  organised. 
Its  officers  were  :  President,  Mrs.  N.  S.  Beidler ;  Vice- 
Presidents,  Mabel  Clark  and  Miss  Ella  Hendricks  ;  Clerk, 
Miss  Laura  Van  Fossen  ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  A.  K.  Thomas. 
Several  of  the  sisters  are  becoming  interested  in  this  work, 
and  they  meet  the  first  Tuesday  afternoon  of  each  month  at 
their  homes. 

(c).  Friday  evening,  December  5,  i8go,  the  Young 
People's  Loyalist  Society  was  organised.  Its  officers  are  : 
President,  Lizzie  Aaron  ;    Vice  President,  Edward   Clark  ; 


64  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Clerk,  May  Ramsey  ;  Committees,  Laura  VanFossen^ 
Jennie  Holbert  and  Bertha  Beaver.  They  have  adopted  a 
regular  constitution,  which  is  issued  by  the  Publication 
Society,  which  shows  the  glorious  object  they  have  in 
view. 

These  societies  are  young  and  their  beginnings  may  seem 
small,  but  by  being  faithful  to  the  object  for  which  they 
have  been  organized,  great  good  may  be  accomplished. 

(d).  Sunday,  January  13,  1889,  the  Sunday  school  was 
changed  from  9  a.m.  to  2  p.m.,  and  we  think  that  the 
change  has  been  beneficial  to  the  healthful  growth  of  the 
school.  Brother  A.  K.  Thomas  has  been  its  faitliful  super- 
intendent from  the  beginning.  Much  more  work  could  be 
accomplished  by  having  many  who  are  now  inactive  out  of 
the  school,  active  in  the  school. 

3.       FINANCIAL    STATEMENT. 

(a.)  Debts  paid  since  April  i,  1888 

(b.)  Contributions      towards      benevolent 

institutions 
(c.)  Current  expenses 

Total 

(d)     Women's    Missionary    Society,    first 
year's  report 

4.    TEXT    OF    LAST     SERMON     SUNDAY     EVENING     FEBRUARY 

22,    i8gi. 

"  Wherefore  my  beloved  brethren,  dearly  beloved  and 
longed  for,  my  joy  and  crown,  so  stand  fast  in  the  Lord 
my  dearly  beloved." — Phil.  4  :   i. 

Yours  in  the  Gospel, 

JOHN  T.  GRIFFITH. 

(From  April  i,  1888,  to  March  i,  1891) 
Lansdale,  Pa., 

Feb.  22,  1891. 

In  the  above  report  reference  is  made  to  debts  paid.     It  is  «* 
worthy  of  note  that  these  debts  were  paid  chiefly  by  the  Mite 


$    757 

03 

.     62 
1,651 

36 

58 

.  $2,470  97 

16 

54 

REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  65 

Society  which  met  monthly  around  the  houses  of  which  Bro. 
A  K.  Thomas  was  President,  and  in  which  all  were  united, 
and  wKenever  the  society  went  out  into  the  country,  our  dear 
friend  James  Brady  was  always  ready  with  his  team,  and  his 
faithful  wife  and  their  beloved  daughter  Lizzie  were  on  hand 
to  help. 

THE  DEDICATION  OF  THE    THIRD    MEETING 

HOUSE  OF  THE    HILLTOWN    BAPTIST 

CHURCH. 


There  are  many  incidents  outside  my  pastoral  work  at 
Lansdale  that  I  would  like  to  note  if  space  permitted,  but 
I  can  only  refer  to  the  dedication  of  the  third  meeting 
house  of  Hilltown  Baptist  House,  which  occurred  Sept.  i8, 
1890 — when  the  following  ministers  officiated — C.  A. 
Hare  of  Doylestown— J.  L.  Plush  and  N.  B.  Baldwin  of 
Montgomery,  and  J.  T.  Griffith  of  Lansdale.  The  follow- 
ing item  respecting  the  dedicatory  services  appeared  in  a 
local  paper — 

BAPTIST  CHURCH  DEDICATED. 

A  large  congregation  collected  on  Thursday  to  witness 
the  dedication  of  the  newly  erected  building  of  the 
Hilltown  Baptist  Church. 

The  exercises  in  the  morning  were  opened  by  singing,  led 
by  the  choir,  followed  by  a  Scripture  reading  by  Rev.  C.  A. 
Hare,  of  the  Doylestown  Baptist  Church,  Rev.  J.  L.  Plush 
of  the  ancient  Montgomery  Baptist  Church  made  the  open- 
ing prayer.  The  dedication  sermon  had  been  assigned  to 
Rev.  Dr.  William  Cathcart,  formerly  of  Philadelphia,  but 
he  was  unable  to  be  present.  Rev.  John  T.  Grifiith,  of  the 
Lansdale  Baptist  Church,  was  substituted.  His  discourse 
treated  largely  of  the  history  of  the  church  and  "ihe  earliest 
movements  of  Baptists  in  America. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  morning  services  the  congrega- 
tion was  invited  to  dine  at  a  neighboring  house. 

In  the  afternoon  Rev.  C.  A.  Hare  of  the  Doylestown 
Church  preached  a  sermon  appropriate  to  the  occasion, 
after  which  a  brief  financial  statement  of  the  church  was 


66  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

presented.  Rev.  Levi  Thomas,  a  direct  descendant  of  the 
Elder  William,  generously  willed  sufficient  money  to  pay 
for  the  new  church  building,  and  the  only  debt  that  re- 
mained was  a  small  balance  on  the  furniture,  which  has 
been  provided  for. 

This  church  has  a  very  interesting  history.  Though  the 
church  was  not  organised  before  Nov,  loth,  1781,  yet 
preaching  was  begun  here  as  early  as  1725  and  probably 
earlier  by  Elder  William  Thomas  who  settled  at  Hilltown 
in  1718.  Mr.  Thomas  built  the  first  meeting-house  in  1737, 
in  which  he  preached  until  his  death  which  occurred  Oct. 
6th,  1757,  at  the  age  of  79  years.  He  was  buried  at  Hill- 
town.  Mr.  Thomas  was  born  at  Llanwenarth,  Monmouth- 
shire, Whales,  in  the  year  1678 — when  he  left  for  America, 
Morgan  Edwards  says  "  that  he  lived  near  Rhasau'r  mwyn 
in  Bedwellty  parish,  and  that  tradition  says  that  he  was  a 
member  of  Blaenau."(Blaenau  Gwent.)  In  the  letter  which 
Abel  Morgan  wrote  from  Philadelphia  dated  April  12th, 
1712,  to  his  old  church  at  Blaenau,  Gwent,  he  requested 
the  church  to  keep  on  as  far  as  possible  the  meetings  at 
Rhasau.  This  was  near  the  home  of  Mr.  William  Thomas. 
(See  Hist,  of  Welsh  Baptists,  by  Joshua  Thomas,  Ponty- 
pridd edition,  pages  406-407.) 

The  late  Rev.  Evan  Thomas  in  his  "  History  of  the 
Shiloh  Baptist  Church,  Tredegar"  states  that  the  meetings 
referred  to  above  at  Rhasau,  were  held  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
Wm.  Thomas,  and  ttiat  his  home  was  really  the  birth  place 
of  the  Shiloh  Baptist  Church,  Tredegar.  The  late  deacon 
Allen  Thomas,  of  Lansdale,  and  his  children  are  direct 
descendants  of  the  above  William  Thomas. 

Reference  was  made  above  to  the  historical  address 
which  I  delivered  at  Hilltown,  when  the  late  Hon.  H,  G. 
Jones  of  Roxboro,  Phil.,  saw  the  report  in  the  daily  papers 
he  wrote  to  me,  Sept.  20,  i8go,  inviting  me  to  attend  the 
Philadelphia  Association  in  Oct — to  give  an  address  on 
behalf  of  the  "American  Baptist  Historical  Society,"  and 
to  bring  my  historical  address  on  "  Hilltown  "  with  me 
— I  went  to  the  Association  which  was  held  that  year  with 
the  Tabernacle  Baptist  Church,  in  Chestnut  street.  Wed- 
nesday, Oct.  8th,  1890,  I  gave  an  address  in  behalf  of  the 
Baptist  Historical  Society,  and  submitted  my  historical 
address  on  Hilltown  Church  to  the  Historical  Committee 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  67 

of  the  Philadelphia  Association,  and  it  was  published  in  the 
minutes  of  the  Association  for  1890,  where  it  may  be  seen 
in  full.  - 

Many  other  outside  incidents  might  be  noted  but  space 
will  not  permit,  hence  I  stop  here. 

In  leaving  Lansdale  they  presented  me  with  the   following 
resolutions — 

At  the  close  of  the  Sabbath  evening  services  at  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Lansdale,  February  22nd,  the 
following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  upon 
the  closing  of  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith's  pastorate  with 
the  church  : — 

Whereas,  in  severing  pastoral  relations  with  our  esteemed 
brother.  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith,  we,  members  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Lansdale,  desire  to  express  our  ut- 
most confidence  in  him  as  a  conscientious,  earnest 
Christian  man  and  preacher  of  the  Word.  There- 
fore, be  it 

Resolved — That  in  leaving  us  and  entering  on  a  new  field 
of  labour  with  the  Berean  Church  at  Reading,  he  does 
so  with  the  best  wishes  and  fullest  sympathy  of  this 
church,  that  while  we  deeply  regret  losing  so  able 
and  earnest  a  worker  as  our  pastor  has  proven  him- 
self to  be,  we  pray  that  the  Divine  favor  which  has 
so  marked  his  work  here  during  the  past  three  years 
may  be  manifested  to  a  still  greater  extent  during  his 
ministrations  with  people  with  whom  he  is  about  to 
associate. 

Resolved — That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  church  that  the 
distinctive  principles  advocated  by  us  as  a  denomina- 
tion have  been  most  ably  and  eloquently  championed 
by  our  brother  during  his  stay  among  us,  and  that 
the  truths,  of  God  thus  sown  will  ever  live  as  a  testi- 
monial of  the  fidelity  of  one  who  has  not  failed  tO' 
declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God. 

By  order  of  the  church, 

U.  S.  BEAVER, 

Church  Clerk 


68  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  ' 

'The  Editor  of  the   "  Lansdale  Republican  "   published  the 
following  item  in  its  issue  of  Feb.  25th,    1891  : 

Mr.  Griffith  left  Lansdale  on  Monday  for  his  new  field  of 
labor  in  the  city  of^Reading.  -The  people  of  Lansdale  regretto 
lose  so  excellent  a  citizen,  and  while  we  do  not  know  who  will 
be  his  successor  at  this  place  we  feel  perfectly  safe  in  saying 
that  a  pastor  of  Mr.  Griffiths'  superior  qualities  can  hardly  be 
expected  to  come  to  Lansdale.  Mr.  Griffith  is  a  great  thinker, 
an  eloquent  speaker  and  an  indefatigable  worker.  His  labors 
at  Lansdale  were  crowned  with  success,  as  the  foregoing 
statement  modestly  asserts. 

A  few  months'  stay  in  Reading  will  prove  to  the  people  of 
that  wide  awake  city  that  they  have  secured  a  pastor  whose 
attainments  fit  him  for  a  very  high  position  in  the  Master's 
vineyard. 


I  can  never  forget  the  kindness  of  the  church  at  Lansdale. 
I  have  in  my  possession  many  tokens  of  their  love  to  me. 

Many  of  those  who  worked  with    me  have  gone    to  their  re- 
ward, but  God  is  still  with  them,  and  will  be. 


--^^ 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Bercan  :Bapti6t  Cburcb,  IRcabing,  pa. 


READING  is  a  beautiful  city  in  the  Schuylkill  Valley, 
and  is  the  county  seat  of  Berks  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  had  a  population  of  about  70,000  in  1891. 
At  the  invitation  of  the  Berean  Baptist  Church  I  preached 
for  them  December  28th,  iSgo,  from  Luke  24,  32,  in  the 
morning,  and  Luke  10,  20  in  the  evening ;  had  a  happy 
day.  I  stayed  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Boyer,  915,  Green- 
wich street. 

Sunday,  Jan.  4th,  1891,  they  held  a  special  business  meet- 
ing to.  consider  the  matter  of  extending  me  a  call  to  the 
pastorate  after  which  they  sent  me  the  following  letter 
which  I  received  at  Lansdale  Jan.  5th. 

Berean  Baptist  Church,  Reading,  Pa. 

Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith, 

Dear  Bro. — 

Allow  me  the  privilege  of  informing  you  that 
at  a  meeting  held  on  Sabbath,  Jan.  4,  '91,  a  ballot 
was  had  for  the  selection  of  a  pastor  for  the  Berean 
Church.     It  affords  me  pleasure  in  stating  to  you 

c 


yo  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

that  you  have  been  unanimously  called  to  become 
our  pastor.  May  God  bless  you  largely  ;  and  in 
the  coming  amongst  us  may  the  richest  blessings 
abide  with  our  church,  and  edification  and  sanctifi- 
cation  of  our  members — and  the  upbuilding  of 
Christ's  Kingdom  in  our  neighbourhood,  and  the 
glorification  of  God,  and  the  church  that  you  leave. 
May  the  prayers  of  God's  people  be  with  them. 

Bro.  Griffith — I  am  requested  also  to  state  that  we 
voted  to  pay  monthly  at  the  rate  of  700  dollars  per 
year,  the  same  as  we  had  done  by  our  former  pastor. 

In  the  case  of  your  acceptance  or  non-acceptance  of  our 
call — the  church's  call — God's  call — you  will  please 
notify  us  at  your  earliest  convenience. 

With  God's  blessing  on  you  and  family, 

I  remain,  yours  truly, 

Ezra  B.  High,  Clerk., 
1513— ^'-  9th  St., 

Reading,  Pa. 

After  a  prayerful  consideration  I  decided  to  accept  their 
call,  and  entered  upon  my  work  the  first  Sunday  in  March, 
when  I  preached  from  Col.  i.  28,  and  John  ix.  25. 

We  moved  to  Reading  from  Lansdale  Feb.  24th,  1891, 
and  were  met  at  the  station  by  sisters  Kate  and  Annie  Ran- 
kin, and  stayed  the  first  night  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jenkin 
Hill,  623,  North  9th  St.  We  received  a  most  cordial  re- 
ception. 

Reading  is  considered  a  very  hard  field  for  Baptists,  be- 
cause of  its  being  a  stronghold  of  German  Pedo-baptist  in- 
fluence, hence  Baptist  progress  has  been  very  slow  here. 
The  Berean  Baptist  Church  was  originally  a  mission  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  and  had  been  in  existence  over  twelve 
years  when  I  went  there,  and  had  remained  loyal  through 
all.  We  held  the  first  week  after  my  settlement  as  a  week 
of  prayer,  and  had  a  blessed   time.     Friday   evening,  March 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  7I 

6th,  Adam  Seyler  rose  for  prayer.  I  continued  to  preach 
every  night  the  second  week.  Sunday  evening,  March  i6th, 
I  had  m5^  first  baptism,  when  I  baptized  Adam  Seyler,  Oscar 
Pennick,  and  Mr.  Kephart.  Monday  evening,  NIarch  15th, 
i8gi,  we  organized  our  weekly  Bible  meeting  to  study  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles.  We  now  entered  upon  our  regular 
services,  and  found  the  work  pleasant,  aided  by  an  excellent 
band  of  Christian  workers  in  young  and  old.  I  can  now 
only  note  some  facts,  but  cannot  give  details. 

Wednesday,  March  25th,  1891,  I  had  the  first  funeral  duty 
of  officiating  at  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Edward  M.  Castor,  aged 
45  years,  who  was  an  excellent  man.  The  funeral  service 
was  held  at  the  church,  which  was  packed — burial  at  Charles 
Evans'  Cemetery. 

Thursday  evening,  April  9th,  the  church  gave  us  a  public 
reception,  when  interesting  addresses  were  given  by  the  Rev. 
Fred.  Evans,  D.D.,  Philadelphia,  and  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Brom- 
ley, pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Reading,  and  several 
selections  by  the  choir  -after  which  refreshments  were 
served  in  the  Sunday  Schoolroom.  It  was  a  very  pleasant 
evening. 

Thursday  evening,  April  23rd,  I  gave  them  a  lecture  on 
"  The  Life  of  Henry  M.  Stanley." 

Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  June  i6th  and  17th,  the  Read- 
ing Association  held  its  annual  meetings  with  this  church. 
Mr.  Jessie  Orr,  Moderator.  Sunday,  July  19th,  the  church 
held  its  twelfth  anniversary.  At  9  a.m.  I  preached  to  the 
children  from  Sam,  iii.  27.  At  10  a.m.  I  preached  the  anni- 
versary sermon  from  Jude,  3rd  and  4th  verses.  At  7  p.m. 
we  had  a  roll  call  and  a  general  conference  as  follows: — 

Voluntary,  Miss  Dickinson  ;  Roll  call,  E.  High  ;  reading 
of  Psalm  45  and  prayer,  Brother  George  Waide  ;  "  The  Be- 
ginning of  Baptist  Mission  Work  in  North  Reading,"  J.  H. 
Rankia  and  W.  H.  Schweimler  ;  "  Reminscences  of  the  Or- 
ganization of  the  Berean  Church,"  Deacon  Savacool  and 
Sister  Ida  Seyler  ;  "  The  Church  and  the  Sunday  School," 
Brother  Shaaber  ;  "  The  Present  Condition  of  the  Church," 
Brother  Jenkin  Hill;  "  How  to  Facilitate  its  Future  Pros- 
perity," Brothers  Monasmith  and  N.  T.  Kunkle;  benediction 
by  the  pastor.     The  following  music  was  rendered  at  the 


72  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

morning  service  :  "  Rest  ye  in  Peace,"  Mendelssohn,  choir; 
duett,  "  Jesus,  Lover  of  My  Soul,"  Lassen,  Misses  Mary  Haas 
and  Kate  iRankin.  Evening  service,  "  I  waited  for  the 
Lord,"  Mendelssohn,  choir;  solo,  "  1  love  to  hear  my  Sav- 
iour's voice,"  Glover,  Miss  Carrie  Castor ;  trombone  solo, 
"  God  of  the  Fatherless,"  Weber,  Harry  Morgan.  Had  a 
very  happy  day. 

During  the  remainder  of  1891  nothing  special  occured. 

Saturday  evening,  Feb.  27th,  1892,  the  ladies  of  the  church 
held  a  Supper  and  Bazaar  at  Association  Hall  when  they 
realized  126  dollars.  They  presented  to  the  pastor  and 
his  wife  a  handsome  quilt  containing  600  nanses. 

Sunday,  March  6th,  1892,  I  preached  my  first  anniversary 
sermon  from  Acts  xi.  26,  to  the  end — "  The  service  rendered 
to  the  church  and  by  the  church."  In  the  evening  the 
Christian  Endeavour  Society  held  its  first  anniversary 
meeting. 

After  some  remarks  by  the  pastor,  Mr.  Charles  Shaaber 
read  a  well  prepared  paper  on  "  The  work  of  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  among  the  colored  people." 
Miss  Kate  Rankin  read  an  exxellent  paper  on  "  Work 
among  Children."  "  Baptist  w^ork  among  the  Mormons  " 
was  the  subject  of  a  good  essay  by  Robert  Rankin,  and 
Miss  Clara  Clark  closed  wdth  an  able  paper  on  "  Prayer." 

The  church  at  this  time  had  a  membership  of  162 — twelve 
had  been  added  during  the  year,  eight  of  them  by  baptism. 
About  400  dollars  had  been  spent  on  church  improvements; 
25  dollars  had  been  contributed  for  missionary  work  by  the 
Sunday  School. 

We  now  held  two  wreck's  special  services  Sunday  evening, 
March  13,  1892.  I  baptized  four — Mrs.  Elizabeth  Shaaber, 
Miss  Susie  Kramer,  Minnie  Murtorff,  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Babcock. 

I  was  assisted  for  a  few  evenings  in  these  meetings  by  the 
Rev.  J.  S.  Bromley,  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church. 

This  year  (1892)  w^as  the  looth  anniversary  of  Modern 
Baptist  Missions,   hence   it   was   celebrated   by   Baptists  in. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  73 

general.     Oct.  2nd  we  celebrated   the  day  at    the  Berean — 
the  progjam  of  the  day  was  as  follows  :  — 

I  preached  in  the  morning  from  Acts  xii.  24 — -"And  the 
word  of  God  grew  and  multiplied."  In  the  afternoon  the 
service  was  opened  with  prayer  by  the  pastor,  and  the  sing- 
ing of  a  hymn  by  the  Sunday  School,  a  recitation  "  Heathen 
Children  "  by  Mary  Francis;  "  Work  for  little  hands  "  by 
Frank  James;  the  Life  of  Carey,  by  six  children—"  His 
Childhood,"  Martha  Shaaber;  "His  Boyhood,"  Maggie 
Rankin;  "  How  he  became  a  Missionary,"  Flora  Potts;" 
"  His  Voyage,"  Ralph  Hill;  "His  first  Hindoo  Convert," 
Mary  High  ;  Results  of  His  Work,"  Clarence  Shaaber.  Nel- 
lie Hartman  recited  "Then  and  now,"  and  Annie  Castor 
"  Freely  have  ye  received  and  freely  give."  Jenkin  Hill 
spoke  on  "  W^hat  we  are  doing  and  ought  to  do  in  Foreign 
Missions." 

In  the  evening  a  young  people's  meeting  was  held.  Miss 
May  Kerryhart  read  a  paper  on  "  William  Carey  an  inspi- 
ration to  the  young."  This  was  followed  by  Miss  Kate 
Rankin  on  "Andrew  Fuller,"  Miss  Annie  Rankin  on  "Joshua 
Marshman,"  Miss  Jennie  Monasmith  on  "William  Ward," 
and  Miss  Mary  Savacool  on  "  Krishna  Pal."  Thomas  Bren- 
holtz  spoke  on  "  What  is  there  for  young  people  in  the  Cen- 
tenary Movement."  This  was  truly  an  educational  day  in 
Baptist  History. 

Thus  we  moved  along  in  our  work  week  by  week. 

Early  in  the  year  1893  many  of  the  churches  of  Reading 
united  in  a  series  of  revival  meetings  under  the  leadership 
of  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Chapman,  D.D  I  copy  the  following 
from  my  diary  ;  -"  Sunday,  January  15,  1893.  To-day  the 
union  evangelistic  services  began  in  the  Rink  under  the 
leadership  of  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Chapman  D.D.  The  morning 
text,  Acts  xix.  2  :  '  Have  ye  received  the  Holy  Ghost  since 
ye  believed?'  Afternoon  text,  Heb.  ii.  3:  'How  shall  we 
escape,'  &c.  In  the  evening  Bro.  J.  H.  Shirey  and  I  had  to 
conduct  an  overflow  meeting  at  the  First  Pres.  Church.  We 
had  no  service  at  the  Berean  Church  to-day  except 
Sunday  School.  In  the  afternoon  at  the  Rink  I  had  the 
misfortune  of  having  my  silk  hat  stolen.  It  seems  that 
Satan  came  also  to  the  meeting,  These  meetings  continued 
until  February  ist.     The  congregations  were  very  large,  and 


74  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

doubtless  much  good  was  done  in  the   city.      I   had   now 
spent  two  years  here." 

I  preached  my  second  anniversary  sermons  March  5th, 
1893,  from  Gal  2.  ig-20  and  I  Pet.  2,   1-3. 

The  following  statistics  may  be  of  interest — (from  March 
ist,  1891  to  March  ist,  1892) — 

Sermons  preached,  116. 
Meetings  attended,  274. 
Funerals,  11.      Baptisms,  8. 

From  March  ist,  1892,  to  March,  1893  •  — 
Sermons  preached,  122 
Meetings  attended,  294. 
Funerals,  11.     Baptisms,  19. 

Wednesday,  March  22nd,  1893,  the  Women's  Missionary 
Society  of  the  Reading  Association  held  their  annual 
meeting  with  the  Berean  church.  In  the  evening  Mrs. 
Downie  of  Nellore,  Burmah,  addressed  the  meeting  and  her 
little  daughter  sang  in  Telugoo. 

Thursday  evening,  March  30th,  1893,  at  the  business 
meeting  the  church  organized  the  "Junior  Baptist  Union  of 
the  Berean  Church,"  and  elected  Miss  Annie  Rankin  Presi- 
dent, and  Miss  Clara  Clark  Vice  President.  This  was  a 
noble  work  for  these  young  ladies,  and  even  for  angels.  I 
frequently  attended  these  children's  meetings  and  always 
enjoyed  them. 

I  was  present  Friday  evening,  April  14th,  1893.  I  now 
copy  from  my  diary — "The  meeting  was  led  by  Miss  Annie 
Rankin  who  prayed  for  the  first  time  in  public,  so  that  it 
will  be  a  memorable  meeting  for  her.  Clara  Clark  was  at 
the  organ.  The  topic  of  the  evening  was  'Jesus  as  our 
model.'  " 

Thus  whilst  these  young  ladies  rendered  valuable  services 
to  the  children,  they  themselves  received  great  blessings 
through  them.  Others  were  also  faithful  to  the  children, 
viz.,  Kate  Rankin,  Mary  Savacool,  Mary  Haas,  Mamie  Dick- 
inson, Mrs.  Adam  Seyler,  &c. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  75 

The  following  brethren  were  the  deacons  when  I  was 
there: — John  H.  Rankin,  Wm.  B.  Savacool,  Ezra  B.  High, 
Samuel  Monasmith,  and  Wm.  H.  Schvveimler.  The  follow- 
ing brethren  served  as  Sunday  School  Superintendents  :  — 
Charles  Shaaber,  Thomas  Brenholtz,  and  Jenkin  Hill. 
The  church  also  had  a  young  man  at  Bucknell  University 
preparing  for  the  ministry,  Mr.  George  Waid.  Bro.  Waid 
has  been  an  honored  and  successful  minister  in  the  state  of 
Michigan  for  years.  I  might  state  other  interesting  matters 
but  the  above  is  enough  to  show  the  character  of  the 
church. 

I  closed  my  pastorate  Sept.  24th,  1893,  in  order  to  go  to 
Portland,  Pa.     My  last  text  was  Zeph.  iii.   17. 

After  the  sermon  a  farewell  meeting  was  held  at  which 
several  spoke  words  of  appreciation  and  presented  me  and 
m\  wife  with  tokens  of  kindness — as  this  was  reported  in 
the  city  papers,  I  will  insert  the  report  as  published: — 

"  Ezra  B.  High,  the  church  clerk,  then  assumed  charge  of 
the  meeting,  and  after  the  singing  of  a  hymn  invited  these 
gentlemen  to  make  addresses  :  Samuel  Monasmith,  William 
Schweimler  and  Jenkin  Hill.  Their  remarks  were  all  highly 
eulogistic  of  their  retiring  pastor,  according  him  their  warmest 
meed  of  praise  and  thanks  for  his  active  and  efficient  work 
which  had  resulted  in  so  nriich  temporal  and  spiritual  good  to 
the  church.  Prayers  were  offered  up  by  Messrs.  Savacool  and 
Dickinson. 

It  appeared  from  their  statements,  and  those  of  the  pastor 
that  28  persons  had  been  baptised  and  40  members  received, 
that  600  dollars  had  been  expended  in  repairs  and  current 
outlays  during  the  past  two  years  and  seven   months. 

Mr.  E.  B.  High  as  chairman  of  the  committee  of  arrange- 
ments, presented  Rev.  Mr.  Griifith  with  a  purse  of  25  dollars 
and  Jenkin  Hill  read  these  resolutions,  which  had  been  unani- 
mously adopted  by  the  congregation  : 

Whereas,  our  esteemed  pastor,  Rev.  John  Thomson 
Griffith  has  been  called  to  a  new  field  of  labor  as 
pastor  of  the  Portland  Baptist  church,  necessitating 
the  discontinuance  of  the  relations  which  have 
hitherto  existed  between  us,  therefore  be  it 


^6  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Resolved,  That  we  accept  his  resignation  with  feelings 
of  heartfelt  regret. 

Resolved,  That  the  faithful  and  able  services  rendered 
by  him  to  this  church  and  its  members  have  been 
signally  blessed  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  church  and 
the  spiritual  growth  of  its  communicants. 

Resolved,  That  his  faithful  ministrations  to  the  temporal 
and  spiritual  welfare  of  all  are  fully  and  gratefully 
appreciated  ;  and, 

Resolved,  That  in  parting  our  kindest  wishes  will  ever 
attend  him,  and  that  we  recommend  him  as  one 
worthy  of  confidence  and  the  highest  esteem. 

These  resolutions  were  presented  in  a  beautiful  frame. 

Mr.  Griffith  is  about  entering  upon  the  twenty-fifth  year  of 
his  ministry,  and  in  the  address  of  thanks  he  made  he  referred 
to  this  fact,  and  stated  that  he  had,  during  all  these  years,  bap- 
tised 700  persons,  established  eight  churches,  built  six  meeting 
houses  and  preached  3,600  sermons.  His  first  pastorate  was 
near  Cleveland,  O. 

N.  T.  Kunkel  then  presented  Mrs.  Griffith,  the  pastor's 
wife,  a  table  cover  on  behalf  of  the  ladies  of  the  congregation. 
A  closing  hymn,  "  God  be  with  you  till  we  meet  again,"  was 
sung  and  the  benediction  pronounced. 

Mr.  Griffith  had  endeared  himself  to  his  congregation  by  his 
sincerity  of  conviction,  his  superior  talents  and  his  magnetic 
personality.  He  was  a  real  leader  of  his  flock  and  his 
departure  is  regretted  not  only  by  his  people  but  by  the  body 
of  the  clergy  in  this  city  and  all  who  had  the  pleasant  privilege 
of  knowing  him." 


I  had  received  many  tokens  of  kindness  and  appreciation 
previous  to  the  above  meeting  from  the  church  as  a  body  from 
my  Bible  class,  and  also  from  individuals,  which  I  still  have 
and  for  which  I  feel  truly  grateful. 

In  the  "  Monthly  Bulletin  "  of  the  Young  Men's   Christian 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  77 

Association    of    Reading    for    October,    1893,     the     following 
editorial  appeared — 

DEPARTURE  OF  REV.  GRIFFITH. 


Rev.  Jno.  T.  Griffith,  pastor  of  Berean  Baptist  Church,  as 
many  of  our  members  are  aware,  has  resigned  to  accept  the 
pastorate  of  a  church  in  Portland,  Northampton  County.  Mr. 
Griffith  has  been  identified  with  Berean  for  about  three 
years,  and  during  that  time,  the  c'lurch  has  prospered,  new 
members  have  been  added  and  enlarged  contributions  received 
for  missionary  purposes  and  church  repairs.  As  a  preacher, 
Mr.  Griffith  was  a  man  of  conviction,  a  fearless  defender  of 
what  he  believed  to  be  the  interpretation  of  God's  word.  As 
a  pastor  he  was  conscientious  and  untiring  is  his  energy.  He 
was  beloved  by  his  people,  who  were  loth  to  let  iiim  go.  On 
the  last  evening  of  his  ministry  in  Reading,  his  people  presen- 
ted to  hmi  a  purse  of  money  and  suitable  resolutions  as  an 
evidence  of  their  esteem  and  apopreciation  of  his  services.  Mr. 
Griffith  has  spoken  a  number  of  times  at  our  association 
meetings  with  great  acceptability,  and  we  regret  his  leaving. 
The  Secretary  had  expected  to  have  been  present  and  partici- 
pate in  the  farewell  exercises,  but  was  unable  on  account  of 
an  engagement  elsewhere,  that  could  not  be  set  aside.  May 
God  bless  Mr.  Griffith  in  his  new  field  and  continue  to  make 
him  a  power  for  good." 

Mr.  J.  H  Edwards  was  General  Sec.  of  the  above  society 
and  editor  ot  the  "  Bulletin  "  and  a  meniber  of  the  M.E. 
church. 

Also  I  had  delivered  several  special  sermons  to  different 
patriotic  orders  in  Reading  and  as  an  expression  of  their  ap- 
preciation of  my  services  they  presented  me  with  a  beauti- 
fidly  framed  engrossed  resolutions  of  respect. 

Thus  I  lived  and  left  Reading.  I  can  never  forget  the  kind- 
ness of  the  people. 


REMINISCENCES  —AMERICA. 


Iportlanb  an&  ifrcclau^  pa. 


PORTLAND. 

Portland  is  situated  on  D.L.R.R.  ahont  nine  miles  from 
Bangor.  Baptists  have  been  in  this  neighbourhood  for  many 
years.  At  one  time  the  late  Rev.  Alfred  Harries  was  pastor  at 
Slateford  which  is  about  two  miles  above,  but  some  years 
before  I  went  there  the  church  had  been  organised  at  Port- 
land. I  began  my  pastorate  with  them  in  October,  1893. 
There  were  three  out-stations  connected  with  the  church  to 
which  I  had  to  preach  every  Sunday  afternoon  which  required 
much  walking  in  addition  to  having  to  preach  three  times  every 
Sunday — but  when  I  preached  at  Tott's  Gap,  brother  Joseph 
Brewer  would  always  take  me  there  in  his  carri;4ge  and  bring 
me  back  for  the  evening  service.  I  spent  a  very  happ)'  year 
with  them  but  I  found  after  the  winter  was  through  that  the 
travelling  required  was  too  much  for  me,  hence  when  I  re- 
ceived a  call  from  Freeland,  Pa  ,  I  accepted  it,  and  closed  my 
labours  at  Portland,  Oct.  28th,  1894,  my  last  text  was  Rev. 
I5.  3 — The  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb.  I  am  glad  to  say 
that  I  left  them  in  peace  and  love  as  the  following  items  show, 
which  appeared  in  the  "  Portland  Enterprise  "  of  that  week  : — 

Mr.  GRIFFITH   LEAVES  PORTLAND. 


"  The  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith  preached  the  last  sermon  of  his 
pjastorate  of  the  Portland  Baptist  church  to  a  large  congrega- 
tion last  Sunday  evening.  At  the  close  of  the  services,  J. 
Brewer  of  Tott's  Gap  in  behalf  of  the  congregation,  presented 
Mr.  Griffith  with  a  set  of  resolutions  engrossed  and  handsomely 
framed.  The  frame  was  the  handiwork  of  Milton  Dewitt  of 
Columbia.     The  resolutions  were  as  follows  : 

Whereas,  Our  pastor.  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith  has  offered  his 
resignation  to  accept  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Freeland  Baptist  church,  and 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  79 

Whereas,  unsuccessful  efforts  have  been  made  to  have 
the  resignation  and  the  call  withdrawn,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  we  accept  the  resignation  with  sincere 
regrets  and  feel  sorry  to  have  to  part  with  such  a 
pastor  and  friend  as  he  has  been  to  us. 

Resolved,  That  we  have  found  in  him  a  consistent 
Christian,  a  faithful  pastor,  and  a  very  efficient 
speaker  in  the  pulpit,  and  as  such  we  can  lieartily 
recommend  him  to  the  church  to  which  he  goes  and 
that  our  best  wishes  and  most  ardent  prayers  shall 
follow  him  wherever  he  goes. 

Resolved,  that  this  preamble  and  resolutions  be  recorded 
in  the  church  minutes  and  published  in  the  "  Port- 
land Enterprise." 


Absalom  Phillips 
George  Nixon 
Theodore  Labar 
Albert   Dutt 
Websti 
Milton 


y  Committee^ 


rER  Weidman 
N'   Evans  ' 


Not  only  the  members  of  the  P)aptist  church,  but  the  citizens 
of  Portland  generally  are  sorry  to  have  Mr.  Griffith  leave.  In 
the  thirteen  months  of  his  residence  in  this  place  he  has  made 
many  warm  friends,  and  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  good  citi- 
zen, an  educated  and  agreeable  gentleman,  and  earnest  and 
powerful  preacher  of  the  \\'ord.  He  goes  to  take  charge  of 
the  Baptist  church  at  Freeland,  Luzerne  county. 


FREELAND. 

Freeland  is  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  about  lo  miles  from  Hazle- 
ton.  I  began  my  pastorate  here  the  first  Sunday  in  November^ 
1894.  I  found  here  a  loyal  band  of  Baptists,  but  scattered 
over  a  large  region — Upper  Lehigh  on  the  one  side,  and 
Drifton  on  the  other  side,  and  what  a  pleasure  it  was  to  see 
them  come  through  all  kinds  of  weather  to  Freeland. 

I  spent  three  happy  years  here — during  those  years  the 
congregations  were  greatly  enlarged — sixty  five  received  by 
baptisms — nearly  i,ooo  dollars  debt  paid — the   meeting  house 


8o  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

renovated  and  furnished  with  new  seats,  and  bills  paid.  I 
never  saw  a  better  cla«:s  of  Christian  workers  than  at  Freeland. 
I  closed  my  labours  here  Nov.  28,  1897 — at  the  close  of  my  last 
service  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : — 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  REGRET. 

Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith,  who  has  resigned  the  Pastorate  of  the 
English  Baptist  church  of  the  town,  preached  his  farewell 
sermon  last  Sunday  evening.  After  the  services,  the  following 
resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

Whereas,  we  learn  with  regret  that  our  pastor,  Rev.  J. 
T.  Griffith,  has,  after  careful  consideration,  resigned 
the  pastorate  of  the  Bethel  English  Baptist  church 
of  Freeland,  Pa.,  and  has  accepted  a  unanimous  call 
to  the  Lansford  Baptist  church,     Therefore,  be  it. 

Resolved,  That  we  hereby  sincerely  and  heartily  express 
our  appreciation  of  the  work  which  our  brother  has 
successfully  performed  while  our  pastor  for  three 
years  and  one  month,  during  which  period  our  church 
has  prospered  spiritually  and  materially. 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  our  brother  as  a  faithful 
minister  of  the  gospel  to  any  church  to  which  he  may 
be  called  to  labor. 

Resolved,  That  we  extend  our  best  wishes  and  hopes  for 
him  and  his  companion's  welfare  wherever  they  may 
be  led  by  Divine  Providence. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  placed  among  the 
church  minutes  and  a  copy  of  them  given  to  our 
brother. 

Done  by  order  of  the  church  November  28,  1897, 

Thomas  Evans,  Albert  Buchman,  Joseph  H.  Evans,  U.  G. 
Fetterman,  deacons.     Morgan  Jones,  secretary. 


>U^ 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Xan9for^  an^  Summit  IbilL 


I  BEGAN  my  pastorate  at  Lansford,  Carbon  County,  Pa., 
Dec.  5th,  1897.  The  church  was  in  rather  a  low  state, 
and  I  soon  found  that  the  pastorate  here  as  in  many 
other  places  required  hard  work  In  addition  to  my  regular 
work  here  I  organized  a  Saturday  afternoon  service  to  study 
Dr.  John  A.  Broadie's  "  Catechism  of  Bible  Teaching,"  and 
what  a  service  this  was,  and  so  fruitful  in  its  results. 

Early  in  i8g8  we  began  to  agitate  the  question  of  enlarging 
and  remodelling  the  meeting  house  which  was  very  much 
needed,  and  succeeded  in  having  the  church  to  do  so,  and  the 
reopening  services  were  held  Nov.  13th,  1898,  when  the  Revs. 
A.  J.  Morton  of  Edwardsdale,  and  D.  E.  Richards  of  Slating- 
ton  officiated,  and  J.  E.  Lauer,  Esq.,  of  Lansford,  conducted 
the  financial  work.  The  services  all  through  were  full  of  in- 
spiration. The  devotional  services  were  conducted  by  the 
Revs.  F.  L.  Brooks  (Bapt.),  Summit  Hill;  F.  T.  Evans,  and 
J.  C.  Handy  (Cong.),  Lansford.  The  improvements  consisted 
of  a  fifteen  foot  addition,  a  vestibule,  a  tower,  new  seats  of  the 
latest  designs,  new  florentine  windows,  and  a  large  cathedral 
window  in  front,  new  pulpit  and  chairs,  three  aisles  nice- 
ly  carpeted    with    brussels,    the    walls   covered    with    a    pale 


82  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

green  felt  and  a  deep  border.  The  basement  has  been 
fitted  up  for  Sunday  School  and  prayer  meetings.  The 
entire  building  is  illuminated  with  electricity  and  heated  with 
a  large  furnace  of  the  latest  design.  The  windows  were  con- 
tributed by  members  of  the  church,  and  the  cathedral  window 
by  the  family  of  the  late  Mrs.  Jane  Edwards.  The  ladies  aid 
paid  for  the  papering  and  the  decorations  of  the  church.  Cost 
oi  improvements  about  1,814  dollars.  Contractor,  J.  R.  Hall, 
Esq.  All  worked  well ;  the  church  had  now  one  of  the  finest 
meeting  houses  in  the  valley.  In  addition  to  my  pastoral  work 
I  was  now  engaged  in  preparing  the  history  of  Morgan  John 
Rees,  which  I  published  here  at  Lansford  in  1899.  ^^  '^^^^ 
printed  by  the  "  Leader  Job  Print,"  Lansford,  owned  and 
edited  by  my  old  friend  Lincoln  Davis.  1  am  glad  to  say 
that  the  book  was  well  received  on  both  sides  of  the  ocean.  I 
continued  here  until  Sunday,  Oct.  27,  1901,  when  I  closed  my 
pastoral  work  here. 

The  deacons  of  Lansford  during  my  pastorate  were  John  C. 
Edwards,  John  Davis,  William  Jones,  and  Griffith  Jones — all 
good  men.     The  first  three  have  gone  to  their  reward. 

I  found  also  an  excellent  helper  with  the  children  in  the  late 
Mrs.  Edward  Powell.  There  are  many  others  whose  names 
I  should  like  to  have  given  if  space  permitted  who  were  excel- 
lent workers  in  the  church. 

In  addition  to  my  pastoral  work  I  did  a  great  deal  of  liter- 
ary work  at  this  place.  For  some  years  before  I  came  to 
Lansford  I  had  been  gathering  the  materials  of  the  history  of 
Morgan  John  Rhys.  I  did  this  at  the  request  of  Rev.  Spinther 
James,  M.A.,  D.  Lit,  Llandudno,  North  Wales,  and  in  the 
month  of  March,  1899,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  having  it  printed 
by  Mr.  D.  A.  L.  Davis,  Editor  and  Proprietor  of  the  "  Lans- 
ford Leader."  The  following  are  a  few — out  of  the  many 
more  that  can  be  given — of  commendations  given  to  show  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  received. 

Resolved — "  That  we  congratulate  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith 
on  his  success  in  discovering  the  works  of  the  famous 
Morgan  John  Rhys — and  in  his  publishing  of  them 
in  a  permanent  form,  and  recommend  the  work  to  the 
denomination  both  in  America  and  Wales." — Welsh 
Baptist  Association  of  North  Eastern  Pennsylvania 
at  Taylor,  Pa,  May  15,  1899. 


REMINISCENCES AMERICA.  83 

^*  I  have  just  received  your  admirable  volume  on  Mor- 
*  gan  John  Rhys." 

Wm.  J.  Rhees, 
Smithsonian  Institution, 
Washington,  D.C.,  May  5,  1899. 


"  The  letters  are  interesting  as  giving  the  writer's  ob- 
servation on  the  new  country's  laws,  customs  and 
manners  of  the  people  as  viewed  by  the  foreigners 
at  that  time."     (1794-95). 

"  The  Intelligencer." 

Doylestown,  Pa.,  July  18,  1899, 


"A    book    of    interest    and   value    to    every    American 
Baptist." 

The  Examiner. 

New  York,  July  20,  1899. 


"  The  Sketch  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Rhys,  as  compiled  by 
the  author  is  most  interesting,  and  contains  much 
valuable  information  of  an  historical  character  in 
connection  with  the  early  days  of  this  country." 

Reading  Eagle,  August  4,  1899. 


84  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

"A  document  of  great  interest." 

Journal  and  Messenger, 

Cincinnatti,  Sept.  7,  iSgg. 

"  Morgan  John  Rhys  was  a  mighty  man,  and  the  mater- 
ial you  have  gathered  about  him  is  most  interest- 
ing.    You  deserve  unstinted  praise." 

Rev.  Owen  James,  D.D., 

Titusville,  Pa.,  Aug.  14,  1899. 


"His  is  truly  an  honourable  name.  I  congratulate 
you  upon  your  work  in  bringing  the  facts  and  re- 
cords into  such  tangible  and  interesting  shape." 

Herman  E.  Lincoln, 
Librarian  of  the  Baptist  Historical  Society, 
Philadelphia,  Aug.  17,  1899. 


"  To  anybody  interested  in  American  history,  and  es- 
pecially to  the  student,  who  seeks  after  the  authen- 
tic sources  of  such  history,  I  heartily  commend  the 
little  book,  "  Rev.  Morgan  John  Rhys,"  as  of  ex- 
ceeding importance." 

Judge  H.  M.  Edwards. 

Scranton,  Sept.  16,  1899. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  85 

"Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith,  Lansford,  Pa.,  has  recently  pub- 
lished a  valuable  sketch  of  this  great  man.  Page 
32-35  give  in  brief  Morgan  J.  Rhys'  discourse  before 
officers^of  the  American  army  and  Major  General 
Wayne  delivered  July  5,  1795.  This  book  has 
much  historical  value." 

Rev.  E.  Edward's  in  his  book — "  \\'elshmen  as  Factors 
in  the  Formation  and  Developement  of  the  United 
States'  Republic,"  (page  181.) 


Dyma  fel  y  cana  Rhoslyn  Davies  i'r  Parch.  J.  T.  Griffith, 
Lansford,  Pa.,  a'i  lyfr  rhagorol  ar  Morgan  .John  Rhys  :  — 

Y  gwr  h(^ff  loan  Gruffydd — yn  ei  waith 
Geir  yn  vvych  hanesydd, 
Ei  hudol  swyn  dilys  sydd 
Yn  lloni  y  darllenydd. 

Wele  frawd  a'i  chvvilfrydedd — yn  hawlio'n 
Deilwng  ein  hedmygedd, 
Unrhyw  un  gar  wirionedd 
Fe  rydd  ei  lyfr  iddo  wledd. 

Mawrygvvn  rawd  Morgan  Rhys — a  yrwyd 
Dros  for  fel  mae'n  hysbys, 
Er  gado'i  wlad  rhag  brad  mewn  brys 
Yn  ddewr  wron  hardd  yr  erys. 


86  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

E  fynai  Duw  drefnu  'i  daith — a'i  wylied 
Rhag  cilio  o'i  obaith, 
Yr  oedd  ganddo  iddo  waith, 
Mwy  hwylus  yma  eihvaith. 

Rhin  ei  ruddin  uwchraddol — i'w  genedl 
Sy'n  ogoniant  bythol, 
Yn  nerth  Ne'  annileol 
Yw  ei  ddwfn  wronaidd  ol. 


Philadelphia,  Nov.  8,  igoo. 

My  Dear  Brother, 

On  my  return  I  found  on  my  table  your  tribute  to 
the  memory  of  Morgan  John  Rhys,  for  which  please 
receive  my  heartiest  thanks.  It  is  v^ell  that  you 
have  paid  this  tribute  to  "  The  Welsh  Baptist 
•  Hero  of  Civil  and  Religious  Liberty  of  the  i8th 
Century."  Such  heroes  are  altogether  too  rare.  It 
is  only  just  that  their  names  be  kept  in  grateful 
remembrance.  You  have  done  your  service  welb 
setting  out  our  hero  before  us  in  an  engaging  light. 

Again,  heartily   thanking  you   for  your   kind  remem- 
brance. 

I  remain  with  great  respect, 
Your  comrade  in  the  Kingly  Service, 

George  Dana    Boardman. 
To  the  Rev.  John  T.  Griffiths,  Lansford,  Pa. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  8/ 

Llandudno,  May  i6,  1899. 

Dear  Brother, 

Your  book  came  to  hand,  and  I  read  it  at  once 
with  great  pleasure.  It  is  certainly  a  great  acqui- 
sition, and  gives  a  more  complete  view  of  M.  J.  R. 
than  anything  we  have  had.  His  letters  on  ac- 
count of  the  knowledge  shown  in  them,  and  their 
superior  fervency  and  eloquence  astonish  me 
greatly.     I  wish  you  all  success. 

Yours  truly, 

Spinther. 


First  Baptist  Church,  Boston,  Aug.  4,  1899. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Griffiths, 

I  thank  you  heartily  for  your  letter  of  congra- 
tulation and  appreciation.  I  very  much  wish  that 
I  had  seen  your  book  before  I  published  the  history 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Boston.  I  should 
like  to  have  quoted  from  it  the  passage  which  you 
insert  in  your  letter,  and  which  would  have  been 
of  the  greatest  interest  to  our  people  in  Boston. 
I  congratulate  you  on  your  work  in  history. 

I  am  sincerely  yours, 
Nathan  E.  Wood  (D.D.) 
The  Newton  Theological  Institution. 


88  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Department  of  New  Testament  Interpretation 

New  Centre,  Mass.,  Dec.  20,  i8gg. 

Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith. 

My  Dear  Bro., 

After  returning  home  from  a  summer's  ab- 
sence I  found  a  memoir  of  my  great  grandfather 
awaiting  me.  I  am  grateful  to  you  for  your  in- 
terest in  my  ancestor,  and  am  pleased  that  your 
work  has  now  so  wide  a  recognition. 

Very  truly  yours, 

RUSH  RHEES. 

(Dr.  Rhees  is  now  the  President  of  Rochester  Univer- 
sity, New  York.  Many  more  might  be  given.  The 
above  edition  isnowfigi^)  out  of  print,  and  a 
second  revised  and  enlarged  edition  which  I  pub- 
lished in  Wales  in  1910  is  almost  out  of  print.) 


In  March,  1900,  the  American  Baptist  Publication  pub- 
lished in  a  tract  form  a  paper  which  1  had  read  at  different 
conference?  entitled — "  Baptist  Missionaries  in  their  relation 
to  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures." 

Thus  by  different  ways  and  means  I  endeavoured  to  serve 
my  denomination  to  the  extent  of  my  ability. 

During  my  four  years  at  Lansford  I  preached  575  sermons, 
baptized  34,  officiated  at  28  weddings  and  49  funerals. 

Monday  evening,  Oct.  28,  1901,  a  farewell  meeting  was 
held  at  the  church  when  the  following  programme  was  ren- 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 


89 


dered  to  a  packed  congregation,  when  Deacon  John  Davies 
presided. 


Music         ...         "  Nearer  my  God  to  Thee  ..  Quartette 

Prayer  ...  ...  ...  Rev.  J.  H.  Bennett 

Song-         ...         "  Flee  as  a  Bird "  ...  Miss  Mary  Smith 

Address  ...  ..  ...  ...         Edward  Powell 

English  Address  ...  --  Griffith  Jones 

Song  ...  "  Wondrous  Story "  ...  Quartette 

Bard.s— Thos.  Thomas,  Wm.  John,  I.  M.  Davies,  W,  G.  Williams 

Solo  ...  ...     "Calvary"      ...       Miss  S.  M.  E.  Davies 

Address  ...  ...  .,  ...        J.  E.  Lauer 

Address  — Revs.  Morris,   Ta)'lorvilIe  ;    Evans,   of  Welsh   Cong- 
regational Church,  and  Thos.  R.  Davies,  of  Coal  Dale. 

Solo  ...  ...  ...  ...         Thomas  Jeffreys 

Address  ...  ...  ...  Rev.  F.  T.  Evans 

Welsh  Song       ...  ...  ...  W.  H.  Claridge 

Address  ...  ...  ..  ...         Rev.  Bennett 

Solo  ...  ...  ...  ...  Miss  Dusch 

Address  ...  ...  ...     Rev.  J.  T.  Griffiths,  D.D. 

Presentation  of  Picture  by  ladies. 

Song  ...  "  There'll  be  no  Parting  "  ...  Quartette 

Benediction  ..  ...  Rev.  F.  T.  Evans 

Poems  were  read  by  Mr.  W.  G.  W'illiams  and  Mr.  T.  W.  Davies 


At  the  close  we  were  presented  by  the  ladies  with  a  beau- 
tiful oil  painting  for  which  and  for  many  other  tokens  we 
have  always  been  grateful.  We  left  with  our  best  wishes 
for  all  for  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  Oct.  25. 


QO  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 


Summit  Ibill. 


Having  often  supplied  the  above  old  church  I  have  felt 
that  a  brief  sketch  of  the  history  of  Summit  Hill,  Pa., 
Baptist  Church  and  its  branches  might  be  of  interest  to 
many. 

Summit  Hill  is  situated  in  Carbon  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  has  been  very  properly  named,  as  it  overlooks  many 
valleys  and  hills  in  the  region  which  is  known  as  the 
Switzerland  of  Pennsylvania.  It  is  claimed  the  anthracite 
coal  was  discovered  in  1791  at  the  present  site  of  Summit 
Hill,  by  Philip  Ginter,  a  German  hunter.  Among  others, 
many  Welshmen  came  to  the  neighbourhood  m  the  early 
part  of  the  19th  century  after  the  discovery  of  coal. 

In  the  valley,  below,  at  what  was  then  known  as  Ashton, 
but  what  is  now  known  as  Lansford,  we  find  that  the  Welsh 
held  union  services  in  a  school-house.  About  the  spring  of 
1849  the  Baptists  decided  to  hold  prayer  meetings  in  a 
private  house  at  Summit  Hill.  It  is  not  certain  whose 
house  it  was,  but  it  is  believed  that  it  was  the  house  of  Mi. 
John  Williams,  owned  by  Mr.  Samuel  Lloyd.  It  seems  that 
Mrs.  Lloyd,  an  Independent,  was  the  one  who  led  the  sing- 
ing at  this  first  prayer  meeting  of  the  Baptists.  For  the 
second  Sunday  two  of  the  brethren  had  secured  the  school- 
house  to  hold  their  service. 

According  to  the  statement  of  a  brother  who  was  present 
at  this  second  meeting,  the  following  members  who  were  in 
good  standing  among  the  Baptists  were  present :  Thomas 
Richards,  John  S.  Davies  and  Edward  Farr,  and  also  the 
wives  of  Richards  and  Davies.  According  to  another  testi- 
mony, we  find  a  little  difference  of  opinion.  It  is  claimed 
that  the  foUowiiig  persons  were  the  ones  present :  John  S. 
Davies  and  wife,  John  R.  Jones  (North)  and  wife,  and  Mr. 
Nathanael  Shecell.     However,  this  meeting  proved  to  be  a 


REMINISCENCES AMERICA,  QI 

blessed  meeting,  for  we  find  that  Mr.  John  Williams  and 
Mary  his  wife  returned  from  the  far  country,  and  united 
with  them,  also  that  John  Prichard  and  William  Thomas 
remained  in  the  after  meeting-  (y  gyfeillach),  and  also 
that  William  Powell  (afterwards  of  Upper  Lehigh),  united 
with  them.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Baptist  cause  at 
Summit  Hill.  It  seems  that  the  Rev.  John  P.  Harris,  then 
of  Minersville,  Pa.,  was  the  first  Baptist  preacher  to  visit 
Summit  Hill. 

May  II.  1850,  messengers  from  different  churches  were  at 
Summit  Hill  to  consider  the  propriety  of  organizing  and 
recognizing  the  members  here  as  an  independent  Baptist 
church.  The  meeting  was  opened  by  the  reading  of  Scrip- 
ture and  prayer  by  brother  D.  T.  Jones  of  Minersville  ;  the 
Rev.  Wm.  Morgans,  Pottsville,  was  elected  chairman,  and 
the  Rev.  John  P.  Harris,  clerk.  Twenty-two  letters  of  dis- 
mission from  different  churches  were  read,  and  eight  others 
were  added  to  them  on  that  day.  After  having  heard  their 
statements  respecting  their  views  of  doctrine  and  Christian 
character,  it  was  decided  that  the  brethren  and  sisters 
here  be  recognized  as  a  regular  Baptist  church  under  the 
name  of  of  "The  Welsh  Baptist  Church  of  Summit  Hill." 

John  S.  Davies  was  appointed  to  represent  the  church, 
and  received  the  hand  of  fellowship  from  the  Rev.  John 
P.  Harris.  Mr.  John  S.  Davies  and  John  R.  Jones  (North) 
were  set  apart  as  the  first  deacons  of  the  church.  The 
charge  to  the  church  was  given  by  brother  D.  J.  Williams 
of  Carbondale,  and  sermons  on  the  occasion  were  preached 
by  William  Morgans,  Pottsville,  and  John  P.  Harris, 
Minersville.  Thus  we  have  the  organization  completed  on 
the  Hill.  The  brethren  now  feel  the  necessity  of  a  pastor, 
hence  they  extended  a  call  to  the  Rev.  David  Evans,  then 
of  Danville.  .Mr.  Evans  accepted  the  call  and  settled  here 
in  the  spring  of  1851.  The  church  numbered  between  thirty 
and  forty  members  at  that  time,  and  they  still  held  their 
services  in  the  school  house.  In  the  August  issue  of  the 
"Western  Star"  for  1851,  we  find  a  few  items  respecting 
the  cause  at  Summit  Hill  sent  by  Mr.  Edward  Farr,  in  which 
he  speaks  of  baptisms,  and  also  commends  the  ministry  of 
Mr.  Evans.  He  also  says  that  they  had  a  few  members  at 
Tamaqua  (distance  about  six  miles),  who  held  meetings 
there  regularly  to  whom  Mr.  Evans  preached  twice  a  month. 
In  1852  the  meeting  house  at  Summit  Hill  was  erected.    Its 


92  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

size  was  27  feet  by  2i5y  ^^d  its  cost  869.90  dollars.  iMr. 
Evans  collected  753.15  dollars  of  the  above  amount,  and 
Tamaqua  nearly  as  much  as  Summit  Hill  towards  the  ex- 
pense of  building.  The  ministers  who  officiated  at  its  dedi- 
cation were  Wm.  Morgans  and  Richard  Edwards,  Potts- 
ville ;  John  P.  Harris,  Minersville,  and  John  James,  St. 
Clair,  known  afterwards  as  is  supposed  by  the  name  of  the 
Rev.  John  W.  James,  the  first  Welsh  Baptist  minister  or- 
dained at  Scranton  as  pastor  of  the  Welsh  Baptist  church 
there  in  1852.  Mr.  Evans  resigned  at  Summit  Hill  in  1854. 
In  the  spring  of  1855  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  W.  R. 
Jones,  who  had  been  ordained  at  Blossburg,  Pa.,  .^pril  ist, 
1855.  Mr.  Jones  accepted  the  call  and  settled  at  Summit 
Hill  that  spring.  December  22-27,  '^^55^  the  Welsh  Baptist 
churches  of  North  Eastern  Pennsylvania  met  at  Scranton, 
Pa.,  and  organized  what  is  now  known  as  "The  Welsh  Bap- 
tist Association  of  North  Eastern  Pennsylvania."  From  1840 
to  1855  the  Welsh  Baptist  churches  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania 
and  New  York  comprised  one  association  under  the  name 
of  "  The  Welsh  Baptist  Association  of  Oneida  and  Eastern 
Pennsylvania."  Among  the  churches  represented  as  the 
constituent  members  of  the  Association  we  find  Summit 
Hill  represented  through  its  pastor,  the  Rev.  W.  R.  Jones. 
Thus  this  church  was  one  of  the  constituent  members  of  the 
W'elsh  Baptist  Association  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Jones  labored  faithfully  and  successfully  until  1859.  In  1857 
we  find  the  following  statistics  respecting  the  church  :  Pas- 
tor, W.  R.  Jones;  baptized  seven  ;  restored  six  ;  received 
by  letters  eight  ;  dismissed  by  letter  one  ;  died  one  ;  mem- 
bership 44  ;  Sunday  School  50.  In  1858  the  statistics  were 
as  foUov.s :  Pastor,  W.  R.  Jones  ;  baptized  16  ;  received  by 
letters  13  ;  excluded  2  ;  membership  52.  By  this  time  the 
church  began  to  extend  her  influence  and  work  to  other 
places,  and  thus  began  to  became  a  mother  of  churches. 

In  1851  a  Mr.  John  Roberts  and  wife  settled  at  Slating- 
ton,  and  finding  no  Baptist  church  there,  they  united  with 
the  Summit  Hill  Church.  "These  loyal  Baptists,  John  Ro- 
berts and  wife,  walked  several  times  on  comm.union  Sun- 
days to  Summit  Hill  and  back  to  Slatington,  a  distance  of 
about  twenty  miles.  Sometimes  they  would  start  on  their 
journey  Saturday  evening,  other  times  4  o'clock  Sunday 
morning,  returning  in  time  for  Mr.  Roberts  to  go  to  work 
Monday  morning.     Ellis  Owens  came  in   1854,  and   his  sis- 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  93 

ters,  Catherine  P.  Williams  and  Jane  Jones  followed  in 
1857,  all  six  coming  from  Sardis  church,  North  Wales.  For 
some  time  they  attended  divine  worship  in  the  Pedo-Bap- 
tist  churches  until  one  Lord's  day  a  preacher  from  Scranton, 
Pa.,  was  supplying  the  pulpit  of  one  of  them,  and  since  he 
was  to  sprinkle  a  babe  in  the  evening  he  preached  on  the 
ordinance  of  baptism.  So  unscriptural  and  rabid  his  re- 
marks proved  to  be  that  Henry  Williams  and  wife  could 
bear  them  no  longer,  and  walked  out.  Ellis  Owens  wrig- 
gled impatiently  in  his  seat  for  some  time  afterwards,  but 
presently  got  up  and  started  for  the  door,  the  preacher  ex- 
postulating said,  "  Wait,  wait,  I'll  be  through  directly,"  to 
which  Mr.  Owens  as  quickly  answered  saying,  "  I  have  lis- 
tened to  your  falsehoods  too  long  already,"  and  out  he 
went. 

This  occasioned  the  establishment  of  a  Baptist  Sunday 
school  and  evening  prayer  meetings  in  a  little  schoolhouse 
built  by  Mr.  Henry  Williams  in  Williamstown,  adjacent  to 
his  quarries,  a  mile  or  so  out  of  Slatington.  The  first  baptism 
was  administered  at  Slatington  July  3,  1859,  by  the  Rev.  W. 
R.  Jones  of  Summit  Hill,  when  the  following  candidates  were 
baptized:  Ellis  Owens  and  wife,  and  Catherine  P.Williams, 
a  sister  of  Mr.  Owens.  From  this  time  on  worship  was 
maintained  and  the  little  band  known  as  a  mission  of  the 
Summit  Hill  church,  the  pastor  spending  a  Lord's  day 
every  two  months  with  them.  It  was  recognised  as  an  in- 
dependent church  Sept.  14,  1861.  Who  knows  the  value 
of  the  service  rendered  by  John  Roberts  and  wife  as  they 
walked  to  and  fro  from  Slatington  to  Summit  Hill?  Thus 
work  extended  into  Lehigh  County  from  Carbon.  About 
the  end  of  the  year  1859,  Mr.  Jones  closed  his  labors  at 
Summit  Hill.  In  February,  i85o,  a  call  was  extended  to 
the  Rev.  Edward  Oliver,  who  had  come  from  Wales, 
known  as  "  Oliver,  Penycae."  Mr.  Oliver  was  regarded  as 
an  able  preacher.  In  the  letter  of  the  church  to  the  Associ- 
ation in  i860  they  report  as  follows :  Pastor,  E.  Oliver  ; 
baptized,  three  ;  restored,  nine  ;  received  by  letters,  three  ; 
excluded,  three  ;  dismissed  by  letters,  five  ;  membership,  52. 
The  Association  was  held  here  in  1861,  and  in  1862  Mr. 
Oliver  left  Summit  Hill  for  Pittston. 


The  church  was  now  pastorless  for  more  than  two  years. 
At  the  close  of  1863,  the  Rev.  A.  J.  Morton  came  to  America 


94  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

and  settled  as  pastor  o[  Summit  Hill  and  Slatington  in 
June,  1864,  and  labored  here  for  nine  years.  The  same  mis- 
sionary spirit  that  had  characterized  the  church  from  the 
beginning  characterized  it  through  these  years.  By  1865 
we  find  the  Welsh  Baptist  church  at  Mahanoy  City  organ- 
ized by  members  from  Summit  Hill. 

In  1867  we  find  Mr.  Morton  at  Upper  Lehigh,  organizing 
the  members  there,  about  thirty  in  number,  into  a  branch 
of  Summit  Hill.  Wm.  Powell  had  opened  the  mines  there. 
It  seems  that  Upper  Lehigh  continued  as  a  mission  until 
1879,  for  we  find  that  its  services  of  recognition  were  held 
June  21,  22,  1879,  when  the  following  ministers  officiated  : 
Revs.  Theophilus  Jones,  Wilkesbarre;  John  P.  Harris.  Pro- 
vidence; W.  D.  Thomas,  Mahanoy  City;  and  B.  Nicholas, 
Hazleton.  The  Upper  Lehigh  church  has  ceased,  but  its 
members  are  identified  at  Freeland.  The  meeting  house  of 
Upper  Lehigh  was  taken  down  in  1899,  and  moved  to  Haz- 
leton, and  rebuilt  there,  and  is  now  the  house  of  worship  of 
the  English  Baptist  Church  of  Hazleton. 

In  the  early  part  of  1871  preaching  was  begun  by  Mr. 
Morton  at  Ashton,  now  Lansford,  and  in  1872  a  meeting 
house  was  built  at  the  lower  end  of  Ashton  on  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  the  West  Ward  school  house  of  Lansford,  35  by 
45  feet.  Thus  during  Mr.  Morton's  pastorate  of  about  nine 
years  the  Sunuiiit  Hill  church  established  churches  at  Ma 
hanoy  City,  Upper  Lehigh,  Audenried  and  Lansford.  In 
1872  Mr.  Morton  left  Summit  Hill  for  Upper  Lehigh.  Lans- 
ford church  was  recognized  as  an  independent  Welsh  English 
Baptist  church  November  7,  1878,  when  the  following  min- 
isters officiated :  A.  J.  Morton,  W.  D.  Thomas,  and  B. 
Nicholas.  In  September,  1873,  Summit  Hill  and  Lansford 
extended  a  call  to  the  Rev.  D.  S.  Thomas,  then  a  student  of 
Madison  (now  Colgate)  University,  N.  Y.  The  call  was 
accepted,  and  Mr.  Thomas  was  ordained  at  Summit  Hill 
October  27,  1873.  The  young  pastor  entered  upon  his  work 
with  energy,  and  the  Lord  blessed  his  labors.  During  the 
first  year  of  his  ministry,  we  find  twenty-two  baptized,  and 
several  backsliders  restored.  The  following  report  in  1875 
shows  the  condition  of  Summit  Hill  and  Lansford  :  Pastor, 
D.  S.  Thomas;  baptized  for  Summit  Hill,  nine;  for  Lans- 
ford, two  ;    restored  for  Summit  Hill,  nine;    for  Lansford^ 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  95 

two  ;  received  by  letters  for  Summit  Hill,  two  ;  for 
Lansforcl,  one;  dismissed  by  letter  from  Summit  Hill,  five; 
exclusion,  nine.  Thus  in  two  years  the  membership  at  Sum- 
mit Hill  had  increased  from  24  in  1873  to  43  in  1875,  ^^^ 
at  Lansford  from  24  in  1873  to  40  in  1875.  In  1875  Mr. 
Thomas  resigned  the  Summit  Hill  part  of  the  church,  and 
gave  his  time  chiefly  to  Lansford  and  St.  Clair  for  about 
five  years. 

In  the  summer  of  1876  the  Rev.  Benjamin  James  assumed 
the  charge  of  Summit  Hill,  and  labored  faithfully  and  suc- 
cessfully for  about  six  months.  He  baptized  two  sisters  on 
a  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  baptistery  at  Lansford,  and  left 
the  next  day.     The  church  for  a  time  depended  on  supplies. 

In  the  summer  of  1876  the  Rev.  Henry  Thomas  came  to 
America  from  Briton  Ferry,  South  Wales,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  Summit  Hill  and 
Lan-^ford  churches,  and  served  both  until  1885,  when  he  moved 
to  Freeland,  Pa.  Mr.  Thomas,  I  think,  was  the  last  pastor  to 
serve  Summit  Hill  and  Lansford  conjointly  from  the  depart- 
ure of  Mr.  Thomas,  and  both  churches  were  independent  in 
the  support  of  their  supplies  and  pastors.  Summit  Hill  was 
blessed  with  the  services  of  an  energetic  and  liberal  brother  in 
the  person  of  Joseph  Richards,  now  of  Slatington,  who  always 
kept  the  church  going  in  all  departments  of  its  work,  whether 
they  had  a  pastor  or  not;  and  they  mostly  had  some  one  to  sup- 
ply them,  either  some  student  from  Bucknell  University,  or 
some  neighboring  pastor.  Among  others  the  writer  supplied 
them  frequently,  and  in  the  fall  of  1887  he  did  so  for  several 
months  in  connection  with  Mahanoy  City.  They  continued 
pastorless  after  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Thomas  until  the  spring 
of  i88g,  when  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Ellis  of 
Centralia,  Pa.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  good  preacher,  and  full  of 
energy,  and  the  seed  which  had  been  sown  by  faithful  brethren 
during  preceding  years  began  to  develop  and  bring  forth  fruit 
in  additions  to  the  church  by  baptism,  and  in  the  enlargement 
of  the  congregation  and  Sunday  School. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Ellis  a  Sunday  School  was  or- 
ganized, and  preaching  was  begun  at  Nesquehoning,  a  village 
between  Summit  Hill  and  Mauch  Chunk.  The  old  Methodist 
meeting  house  was  bought  there,  and  dedicated  for  Baptist 
use.    Much  credit  is  due  to  the  Richards'  family,  the  Morgans' 


g6  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

family,  the  Hancock's  family,  and  the  Jenkins'  family.     After 
Mr.  Ellis  had  labored  a  few  years  he  resigned. 

Summit  Hill  and  Nesquehoning  were  again  dependent  on 
supplies,  yet  the  brethren  held  together  faithfully.  Neigh- 
boring pastors  administered  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per and  Baptism  as  needed.  Summit  Hill  and  Nesquehoning 
were  regarded  as  one  church  then,  but  they  are  independent 
now.  The  brethren  and  sisters  at  Nesquehoning  held  on  faith- 
fully for  years  without  seeing  any  fruits  of  their  labours  (i88g- 
1896),  hence  the  following  item  from  a  Mauch  Chunk  paper 
for  April  13,  1896,  will  be  of  interest : 


THE  FIRST  BAPTISMAL    SERVICE    IN 
NESQUEHONING. 


For  about  five  months  Bro.  S.  J.  Cleeland,  a  licentiate  of  the 
Spruce  Street,  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  has  been  preach- 
ing as  a  supply  to  the  Nesquehoning  Baptist  Church.  During 
these  months  the  Lord  has  prospered  the  work  by  the  addi- 
tions of  quite  a  number  of  converts  to  the  church. 

Sunday,  April  12th,  at  the  invitation  of  the  church,  J.  T. 
Griffiths  of  Freeland  preached  three  sermons.  At  2  p.m.  a 
baptismal  service  was  held  when  the  following  candidates 
were  baptised  in  the  Nesquehoning  Creek,  about  the  centre  of 
the  town,  by  J  T.  Griffiths.  The  following  were  the  candi- 
dates:  John  Bradwell,  Winfield  G.  Hancock,  David  Thomas, 
Harry  McElmoyle,  John  Thomas,  David  E.  Jenkins,  Wm. 
Jenkins,  Morris  Grainger.  Wm.   Johns,    Richard  Johns,    John 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  97 

Morgans,  John  Watt,  Geo.  Morgan,  Mrs.  John  Bradwell, 
Mrs.  Harry  Griffiths,  Mrs.  John  Thomas,  Miss  Martha  Gibson, 
Miss  Mar-y  Johns,  Miss  Jennnie  Jenkins,  Miss  Mary  Watt, 
Miss  Eleanor  Jenkins,  Miss  Hattie  Johns. 

Previous  to  the  administrations  of  the  service  a  brief  sermon 
was  preached  from  Matt.  3:  13-17,  subject  being  "The  Mode, 
Purpose  and  Approval  of  Christ's  Baptism."  The  first  person 
baptized  was  Mr.  John  Bradwell,  the  first  woman  was  Mrs. 
John  Bradwell.  A  large  number  of  friends  of  the  candidates 
were  present  from  Lansford,  Slatington,  Summit  Hill  and 
Mauch  Chunk.  In  the  evening  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  was  observed.  Brother  J.  T.  Griffith  officiating  at  the 
table.  Much  could  be  said  about  the  services  of  the  memorable 
day,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  same  impressive  scene  may  soon 
again  be  witnessed  in  the  town  of  Nesquehoning.  The  scene 
about  the  "pool"  made  a  lasting  impression  upon  those  who 
saw  the  immersion  of  the  candidates.  No  flower  could  be 
more  beautiful.  W^ords  fail  in  the  description.  It  seemed  as 
though  John  the  Baptist  had  come  back  and  all  Jerusalem  had 
turned  out  to  hear  him." 

The  Nesquehoning  mission  was  recognised  as  an  Independent 
Baptist  church,  April  23,  1896.  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith  of  Free- 
land  wys  elected  chairman  of  council ;  deacon  Joseph  Richards 
of  Slatington,  clerk;  the  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev. 
D.  E.  Richards,  M.D.,  of  Slatington  ;  prayer  by  the  Rev. 
John  Skym,  of  Lansford  ;  charge  to  the  church  and  hand  of 
fellowship  by  the  chairman.  The  church  was  received  into 
the  Reading  Association  that  year.  The  Summit  Hill  church 
withdrew  from  the  W^elsh  Baptist  Association  of  North 
Eastern  Pennsylvania  in  1893,  ^"^  united  with  the  Reading 
Baptist  Association  the  same  year.  The  Reading  Association 
was  held  that  year  at  Pottsville,  and  the  hand  of  fellowship 
was  extended  by  the  writer,  who  was  the  moderator  of  the 
association  that  year,  to  Mrs.  Joseph  Richards,  the  delegate 
from  Summit  Hill  church.  Since  the  departure  of  Mr.  Ellis 
the  church  has  had  as  pastors.  Revs.  James  Marquick, 
F.  S.  Brooks  and  E.  F.  Partridge.  It  has  no  pastor  now. 
Thus  we  see  that  the  Summit  Hill  church  has  a  rich  history. 
She  has  passed  through  many  changes,  but  the  Lord  has  pre- 
served her,  and  made  her  very  fruitful  as  the  mother  of  at 
least  five  churches. 

Now,    inasmuch    as    Lansford    is    in    the    neighborhood   of 


98  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Summit  Hill,  we  will  continue  with  Lansford  after  the  de- 
parture of  the  Rev.  Henry  Thomas  in  1885.  Afer  the  depar- 
ture of  Mr.  Thomas  the  church  depended  chiefly  on 
supplies  until  April,  1887,  when  the  Rev.  D.  I.  Evans,  then 
ot  Olyphant,  accepted  a  call,  and  began  his  pastorate  April 
10,  1887.  It  was  during  the  close  of  his  pastorate  that  the 
church  moved  its  meeting  house  from  its  first  location  in  the 
lower  end  to  its  present  site  on  Ridge  Street.  Mr.  Evans  re- 
mained here  until  April,  1889,  and  was  greatly  blessed  in  his 
work.  The  church  depended  again  on  supplies  for  several 
years.  In  1890  they  called  the  Rev.  D.  C.  Edwards  from 
Brymbo,  North  Wales.  Mr.  Edwards  left  in  the  summer 
of  1891,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  entered  Crozer 
Theological  Seminary.  The  church  was  again  pastorless  for 
three  years,  but  was  mostly  supplied  by  preaching.  In  the 
meantime  special  revival  services  were  held  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Pauling,  bv  which  valuable  members  were  added  to  the  church. 

In  the  summer  of  1894  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  John 
Skym,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  which  he  accepted.  Mr.  Skym  re- 
mained here  until  1897.  During  his  pastorate,  after  many 
years  of  hard  work  under  different  pastors,  the  church  became 
free  from  debt.  In  the  fall  of  1897  a  call  was  extended  to  the 
Rev.  John  T.  Griffith  of  Freeland,  Pa.,  who  began  with  them 
the  first  Sunday  in  December,  1897.  ^^  labored  among  them 
four  years.  During  the  summer  of  1898  the  meeting  house 
was  enlarged,  remodelled  and  refurnished  at  an  expense  of 
nearly  §2.000,00,  all  of  which  had  been  paid  within  .§250.00 
when  he  left  in  October,  1901.  May  18-20..  1901,  the  Welsh 
Baptist  Association  of  North  Eastern  Pennsylvania  held  its 
annual  meetings  with  this  church. 

The  writer  knows  of  many  striking  incidents  thar  have  oc- 
curred under  different  pastorates  that  would  be  of  interest  to 
many,  but  his  chief  aim  has  been  to  give  a  general  view  of  the 
W'Ork  from  1849  to  October,  1901,  when  he  left  them  with  his 
best  wishes  for  their  success.  "Peace  be  within  thy  walls  and 
prosperit}'  within  thy  gates,  O  Zion." 

It  may  be  proper  to  state  that  for  many  years  at  Summit 
Hill  all  preachers  were  entertained  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Joseph  Richards  until  they  moved  to  Slatington. — j.t.g. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  99 

P.S. — I  wish  to  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  an  article 
in  the  "  IVawr"  by  the  Rev.  D.  S.  Thomas,  M.x\.,  and  to  an 
article  in..the  minutes  of  the  Reading  Association  and  to  the 
Rev  D.  E.  Richards,  M.D.,  of  Slatington,  Pa.,  for  many  of 
the  above  facts. 


^eX^ 


CHAPTER  XV. 


^be  3uDilcc  of  tbe  Colb  point  Cburcb. 


(Note. — The  following  article  was  published  in  the  "  Baptist 
Commonwealth"  for  May  12th,  1904,  by  the  Rev.  H. 
B.  Garner,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  church  at  the  time, 
and  as  I  had  the  honour  of  being  pastor  of  the  church 
for  two  years  as  already  stated  in  my  article  on 
"  Mahanoy  City  "  I  take  the  liberty  of  republishing  it 
among  my  "  Reminiscences."  It  is  an  excellent 
church. — j.T.G.) 


THE  JUBILEE  OF  THE    COLD    POINT 
CHURCH. 


ON  Sunday  morning,  April  24th,  1904,  was  held  the 
opening  service  in  connection  with  the  semi-centennial 
exercises  ef  the  Cold  Point  church.  On  this  occasion  the 
pastor,   Rev.  Harrison   B.   Garner,    preached    the    historical 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  lOI 

sermon,  taking  as  his  text,  "  One  generation  shall  praise  thy 
works  to  another;  and  shall  declare  thy  mighty  acts." 
Psalm  145  .  4. 

In  reviewing  the  history,  it  dated  back  as  far  as  1S40,  when 
the  first  converts  were  baptized  in  the  neighbourhood  as  a 
residt  of  meetings  held  in  the  (Jold  Point  school  house,  by  the 
Rev.  Robert  F.  Yountr,  then  pastor  of  the  Chestnut  HiP  Bap- 
tist church.  These  early  converts  were  taken  into  the  Chest- 
nut Hill  church,  as  were  many  others  who  later  on  were  bap- 
tized by  Mr.  Young  and  other  pastors  who  immediately  fol- 
lowed him.  In  1843  a  Sunday  School  was  organized,  and  has 
kept  in  continuous  existence  down  to  the  present  time,  at  first 
fostered  by  the  numbers  at  Chestnut  Hill  and  Mount  Pleasant. 
In  1845  a  lot  was  purchased  and  a  meeting  house  was  built, 
largely  by  the  personal  efforts  of  Mr.  Young,  who  held  the  deed 
until  1849,  when  it  was  passed  over  to  others.  Here  as  an 
outstation  of  Chestnut  Hill  regular  services  were  held  and  a 
Sunday  School  was  maintained. 

In  the  fall  of  1853  special  meetings  were  held  here,  con- 
tinuing for  six  weeks.  The  Rev.  J.  M.  Richards,  then  pastor 
at  Germantown,  preached  every  night  for  three  weeks.  Then 
other  pastors  in  the  vicinity  assisted,  among  them  Revs.  M, 
R.  Watkinson,  D.  F.  Carnahan,  J.  M.  Lyons  and  Washington 
Barnhurst.  As  a  result  27  were  baptized.  This  occasioned  a 
quickening  of  the  spiritual  life  of  the  neighbourhood,  so  that 
early  in  January,  1854,  measures  were  taken  looking  toward 
the  organization  of  a  church.  Fifty-three  withdrew  their  let- 
ters from  the  Chestnut  Hill  church,  and  on  April  5th  of  the 
same  year  constituted  themselves  into  a  separate  body,  by 
adopting  the  New  Hampshire  confession  of  faith,  and  electing 
John  Getman,  deacon  ;  David  Marple,  treasurer  ;  Henry  M. 
Hentz,  clerk,  and  George  Bisbing,  David  Marple,  Henry  M. 
Hentz,  John  Batorff,  and  John  Getman,  trustees. 

A  council  of  recognition  was  called  for  the  igth  of  April, 
which  voted  to  recognize  the  church  with  formal  public  ser- 
vices on  the  27th.  At  the  public  recognition  the  introductory 
exercises  were  read  by  Rev.  Wm.  Pike,  of  Balligomingo  ;  the 
sermon  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Richards,  from  Ezekiel  43:  11,  12, 
prayer  by  J.  Newton  Brown,  of  Germantown  ;  hand  of  fel- 
lowship by  Rev.  M.  R.  Watkinson,  of  Falls  of  Schuylkill  ; 
charge  to  church  by  Rev.  Washington  Barnhurst,  of  Chest- 
nut Hill  ;  charge  to  congregation  b}'  Rev.  D.  L.  Carnahan,  of 
Bridgeport. 

D 


I02  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

The  following  churches  were  represented  at  the  council  : 
Chestnut  Hill,  Germantown,  Schuylkill  Falls,  Balligomingo, 
Norristown  and  Bridgeport. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Trotter  was  stated  supply  for  one 
year,  and  in  1855  he  became  the  pastor,  and  continued  until 
1859.  The  church  was  incorporated  as  the  Plymouth  Baptist 
church  in  1856.  This  charter  was  amended,  however,  in  1869, 
and  the  name  changed  to  the  Cold  Point  Baptist  church  of 
Plymouth.  It  entered  the  Central  Union  Association,  and  re- 
mained in  this  relation  until  the  North  Philadelphia  Associ- 
ation was  formed  in  1858,  when  it  became  one  of  the  consti- 
tuent members  of  that  body.  There  followed  a  succession  of 
worthy  pastors.  The  Rev.  William  Coxey  served  tlie  church 
from  1859  to  1862;  Rev.  Jesse  B.  Williams  w^as  pastor  from 
1862  to  1866,  and  had  a  second  term  from  1869  to  1870.  This 
pastorate  covered  the  Civil  War  period,  and  was  not  marked 
by  any  special  increase  by  baptism.  The  Rev.  A.  H.  Folwell 
served  for  one  year,  1866  to  1867.  It  was  during  this  time 
the  church  projected  a  new  building  enterprise,  their 
first  structure  becoming  too  straitened  for  the  congregations. 
A  large  two-story  stone  building,  38  by  59  feet,  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  7,000  dollars,  and  dedicated  in  May,  1869. 

The  Rev.  H.  H.  Leamy  became  pastor  in  1870,  being  or- 
dained on  the  field.  He  continued  for  two  years  and  a  half. 
His  labors  were  abundantly  blessed.  He  baptized  seventy- 
two  into  fellowship  of  the  church.  Congregations  were  large. 
The  Sunday  School  put  on  nev^  life,  and  all  departments  of 
church  work  were  quickened  This  was  the  most  resultful 
period  in  the  church's  history.  The  Rev.  C.  B.  Oakley  fol- 
lowed with  a  short  pastorate  of  nine  months  in  1873  and  1874, 
when  the  Rev.  Rolandus  Cocher  was  called  to  the  field.  This 
proved  to  be  the  longest  pastorate,  covering  a  period  of  six 
years.  Following  so  soon  after  the  large  ingathering  of  pre- 
vious years,  there  was  much  to  be  done  in  building  up  charac- 
ter and  strengthening  the  things  that  remained,  while  41  addi- 
tional w^ere  baptized. 

The  Rev.  J.  C.  Jacob  served  the  church  from  1882  to  1884, 
and  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith  fron;  1885  to  1887.  It  was  during 
Mr.  Griffith's  pastorate  that  the  church  purchased  the  present 
pastorage  property  and  enlarged  the  cemetery.  The  Rev. 
George  E.  Weeks  was  pastor  from  1887  to  1891,  and  the  Rev. 
Charles  B.  Furman  from  1891  to  1894.  The  Rev.  D.  J.  R. 
Strayer  followed  in  1894,  and  continued  until    1896,   when  the. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  IO3 

work  was  taken  up  by  the  Rev.  E.  R.  Tilton,  who  remained 
for  over  four  years  and  baptised  fifty,  the  second  larfrest 
number  in  the  history  of  the  church.  In  1902  the  Rev. 
Harrison  J3.  Garner  assumed  the  pastoral  charge  and  continues 
to  the  present  time. 

Of  the  fity-three  constituent  members,  fifteen  are  yet  living, 
seven  of  whom  remain  in  membership  with  the  church — Mrs. 
Edith  Marple,  Mrs.  Clara  B.  Hart,  Esther  Staley,  Mrs.  Amanda 
H.  Chick,  Mrs.  Mary  Carn,  Mrs.  Ann  Hallman  and  Mrs. 
Josephine  Berkhimer.  The  total  of  membership  reached  168, 
its  highest  limit  in  1878.  In  1902  there  were  dismissed  twelve 
members  to  unite  in  organising  the  Sprmg  Mills  Baptist  church. 
Three  hundred  and  seventy-seven  (377)  were  received  into  the 
church  during  the  fifty  years  by  baptism.  The  mission  having 
been  started  during  Bro.  Tilton's  pastorate.  Two  of  the  licen- 
tiates of  the  church  have  been  ordained  to  the  ministry,  the  Rev. 
Wm.  J.  Coulston,  now  pastor  at  Greensburg,  Pa.,  and  the 
Rev.  G.  Livingstone  Bayard,  Cliaplam,  U.S.N. 

In  the  item  of  expenditures  the  record  is  one  worthy  of  com- 
mendation, considering  that  from  the  beginning  this  has  been 
a  country  church.  The  totals  for  the  fifty  years  sum  up  as 
follows:  For  home  church  expenses,  .$45,392.00;  for  benevo- 
lence, §7,604.00 ;  total  expenditures,  853,090.00.  These 
figures  represent  much  of  consecrated  toil  and  energy,  and  as 
transmuted  mto  spiritual  life  and  zeal  for  the  kingdom  it  is  be- 
yond estimate. 

During  the  last  fall  and  winter  the  main  audience  room  of 
the  church  was  renovated  and  changes  made  in  the  vestibule, 
all  of  which  have  added  greatly  to  the  beauty  and  convenience 
of  the  interior  of  the  church.  This  was  done  at  a  cost  of 
-11,050.00,  and  was  under  the  supervision  of  the  Ladies'  Aid 
Society.     This  amount  is  almost  entirely  paid  or  provided  for. 

On  Sunday  afternoon  of  jubilee  week  the  Sunday  School  ob- 
served its  6ist  anniversary.  It  was  organised  eleven  years  prior 
to  the  church  and  has  been  continuous  m  its  sessions  ever  since. 
The  superintendent,  David  R.  Crater,  gave  an  outline  of  the 
school's  history,  and  former  superintendents  and  assistants  who 
were  present  spoke.  Among  these  were  Isaac  Coulston, 
Joseph  D.  Wolf,  George  Wolf,  Charles  W.  Lewis,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Huston  and  Mrs.  G.  L.  Bayard.  The  following 
served  as  superintendents  :  Howard  Marple,  Rev.  T.  C. 
Trotter,  Henr)'  M,  Hentz,  Andrew  Lysinger,  Samuel  Davis,  J. 


104 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 


M.  Latshaw,  C.  W.  Lewis,  Rev.  R.  Kocher,  Joseph  D. 
Wolf,  Rev.  C.  B.  Furman,  D.  L  Crater,  and  as  assistants 
Isaac  Coulston,  George  Wolf,  Sylvester  Jones,  G.  Drayton 
Strayer,  Harry  Gillespie,  Elizabeth  Huston  and  Harry  S. 
Miller. 

In  the  evening  the  Rev.  R.  G.  Seymour,  D.D.,  of  Phila- 
delphia preached  a  most  instructive  and  inspiring  sermon 
from  the  words  :  "i\nd  hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet,  and 
gave  him  to  be  the  head  over  all  things  to  the  church,  which 
is  his  body,  the  fullness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all." — Eph. 
i:  22,  23. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  the  2bth,  greetings  from  neighboring 
pastors  were  given,  and  the  general  topic,  "A  Half  Century's 
Work  for  the  Kingdom,"  was  discussed  by  the  Rev.  J.  F. 
Hartman,  D.D.,  of  the  S.  Peter's  Lutheran  Church  of  Barren 
Hill  ;  the  Rev.  W.  P.  Rhoda  of  the  Evangelical  Methodist 
church,  of  Plymouth,  and  Rev.  W.  G.  Russell,  of  the  first 
Baptist  church  of  Norristown. 

On  Wednesday,  the  27th,  there  was  an  all-day  service,  be- 
ginning in  the  morning  at  1030.  The  Rev.  E.  R.  Tilton,  of 
Roadstown,  N.J.,  led  the  devotions,  and  the  Rev.  D,  J.  R. 
Strayer  preached  from  Revelation  19:  12,  "And  on  his  head 
were  many  crowns."  At  2.30  p.m.  the  prayer  and  praise  ser- 
vice was  led  by  the  Rev.  T.  L.  Lewis,  D.D.,  of  the  Richmond 
church,  Philadelphia.  Bro.  Lewis  was  stated  supply  of  the 
church  for  six  months  in  1881.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion 
w^as  to  have  been  preached  by  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith,  D.D  ,  of 
Edwardsdale,  Luzerne  Co  ,  Pa.,  but  he  was  unexpectedly  de- 
tained by  a  funeral  of  one  of  the  members  of  the  church  and 
sickness  in  his  family.  This  was  a  great  disappointment  to 
many  who  had  held  him  in  high  esteem  for  his  devoted 
labours  here.  The  Rev.  E  R.  Tilton  very  acceptably  filled 
the  place  and  preached  from  Philippians  3  :   13,  14. 

The  clerk  of  the  church,  Charles  \\'.  Lewis,  read  a  list  of 
the  official  members  of  the  church  from  its  beginning,  and 
conducted  the  roll  call,  when  a  large  number  responded  to 
their  names.  Two  of  the  officers  of  the  church  were  spoken  of 
in  special  terms  of  commendation  because  of  their  long  con- 
tinued and  valuable  services — Deacon  David  Marple,  who  had 
served  as  trea.surer  from  1854  to  1887,  the  year  of  his 
death,  as  trustee  for  the  same  period  and  as  deacon  for 
twelve  years,  and  Deacon  Jonathan    Batdorf,  who  had  served 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  IO5 

as  deacon  from  1856  to  1904,  and  as  trustee  from  1858  to  1904. 
Others  had  wrought  faithfiilly,  but  these  brethren  by  their  pro- 
tracted services  had  contributed  much  toward  the  success  of 
the  church,  and  had  proven  themselves  worthy  of  double 
honor.  It  had  been  expected  that  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Banes,  of 
Philadelphia,  would  occupy  part  of  this  session  by  talk  on 
"  Scenes  from  our  Mission  Fields,"  but  she  was  himlered  from 
being  present  by  sickness,  much  to  the  regret  ot  all. 

"Pastoral  Reminscences "  occupied  the  last  hour  of  the 
session,  when  intensely  interesting  experiences  during  their 
pastorates  were  referred  to  by  the  Rev.  Rolandus  Kocher,  D. 
J.  R.  Strayer,  E  R  Tilton  and  T.  L.  Lewis.  A  letter  was 
read  from  Pastor  H.  H.  Leamy,  who  regretted  much  his  ina- 
bility to  be  present.  In  this  letter  many  items  of  his  pastoral 
experience  were  referred  to  and  added  much  to  the  profit  of 
the  occasion 

The  evening  services  were  opened  by  a  devotional  half  hour, 
led  by  the  Rev.  Charles  P..  Furman,  of  Norristown  Brethren 
Kocher,  Lewis  Strayer  and  Tilton  followed  with  earnest  ad- 
dresses on   "  Our  Present  l)uty  " 

Thursday  evening  was  the  woman's  session,  when  the  ladies' 
societies  of  the  church  came  to  the  front.  Mrs.  H  B.  Garner 
presided.  Mr.  Thomas  Sames,  of  Norristown,  led  the  devo- 
tion. The  report  of  the  work  of  the  steadfast  mission  "oand 
was  read  by  Miss  Effie  Marple,  secretary.  iMiss  Elizabeth  Hus- 
ton, president  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  gave  an  account  of  the 
helpful  services  rendered  by  them  in  financial  affairs  of  the 
church,  not  the  least  of  which  was  the  successful  prosecution 
of  the  renovation  of  the  main  audience  room.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Wilson,  treasurer,  and  Mrs.  D.  L.  Crater,  secretary  of  the 
Woman's  Mission  each  reported  on  their  special  branch  of 
the  work. 

These  reports  were  followed  by  earnest  and  inspiring  ad- 
dresses on  the  various  phases  of  Woman's  and  Young  People's 
work  for  missions  by  Mrs.  Thomas  Sames,  president  of  the 
Woman's  Foreign  Mission  Society  of  the  Central  Union  Asso- 
ciation, and  by  Mrs.  Frederic  R.  Uarnes,  Junior  Secretary  of 
the  Young  People's  Missionary  Society  of  North  Philadelphia 
Association. 

Friday  evening  closed  the  series  of  jubilee  meetings.  The 
prayer  and  praise  service  was  led  by  the    Rev.  C.  J.  Dauphin, 


I06  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

pastor  of  the  Spring  Mills  church,  and  the  general  topic  of  the 
evening,  "  The  Future  Outlook,"  was  presented,  with  cordial 
congratulations,  by  Rev.  J.  Eugene  Dietterich,  of  the  Zions, 
Lutherean  church  of  Whitemarsh.  and  Rev.  E.  E.  Valentine' 
of  Ambler,  and  Rev.  J.  Elmer  Saul,  of  Norristown. 

Interest  in  these  several  services  was  maintained  with  in- 
creasing force  from  beginning  to  end,  and  full  congregations 
greeted  the  speakers  at  every  session,  and  this,  too,  in  spite  of 
the  stormy  weather  that  prevailed  during  the  week.  The 
music  was  finely  rendered  by  the  choir,  under  the  faithful 
leadership  of  Bro.  S.  Miller,  chorister.  The  floral  decorations 
were  tastefully  arranged,  and  gave  a  pleasing  effect  to  the 
audience  room. 

One  of  the  most  attractive  features  of  the  meetings  was  the 
photographic  collection  of  the  former  pastors,  arranged  in 
order  of  their  services  and  finely  framed,  which  had  been  un- 
veiled after  the  historical  sermon  on  Sunday  morning.  This 
included  the  portrait  of  Rev.  Robert  F.  Young,  the  founder 
of  the  church,  and  every  pastor  down  to  the  present. 

The  committee  that  had  the  various  arrangements  in  charge 
have  reason  to  be  congratulated  on  the  success  of  the  meet- 
ings, for  their  efforts  greatly  contributed  to  the  happy  results. 


^XFXK'^ 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


3obn6to\vn,  pa. 


WE  moved  from  Lansford  to  Bethlehem,  Pa.,   not   intend- 
ing to  accept  another  charge  at  least  for  some  time,  as 
I  had  other  work  to  do. 

Before  I  left  Lansford  I  had  made  arrangements  to  supply 
the  Welsh  Baptist  Church  of  Johnstown  the  first  two  Sundays 
in  November,  1901,  as  I  wished  to  make  some  mvestigations 
in  that  neighborhood  respecting  Morgan  John  Rhees.  When 
I  went  to  Johnstown  to  'supply  tliem  those  two  Sundays,  I  had 
no  intention  of  staying  there  any  longer — but  after  I  had 
preached  the  second  Sunda}-  I  was  invited  to  preach  another 
Sunday,  and  until  Sunday,  December  8th,  1901 — when  the 
church  gave  me  a  unanimous  call  and  prevailed  on  me  to 
accept,  though  I  told  them  that  I  could  not  move  there  but 
would  stay  with  them  as  long  as  I  could,  as  my  wife  was  not 
well  and  we  had  to  move  to  Bethlehem  which  was  over  200 
miles  away  which  made  it  very  inconvenient  for  me,  but  I 
stayed  with  them  until  March,  1903,  and  had  a  very  happy 
time  with  them — kinder  people  I  never  saw.  As  the  church 
had  lost  its  records  and  every  thing  else  during  the  great  flood 
of  1889 — I  thought  it  important  to  try  to  find  the  facts  of  its 
histoiry  as  far  as  possible,  and  succeeded  pretty  well,  hence  I 
have  thought  that  a  brief  sketch  of  its  history  will  be  in- 
teresting.      I   had  to  gather   the   following  items — the   most 


I08  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

from    the    memory  of  the   oldest   members,   hence   I   cannot 
claim  perfection,  hut  I  give  what  I  found  : — 

As  near  as  I  have  been  able  to  find  out  the  church  was  re- 
gularly organized  June  25th,  1854,  ^^^^  ministers  who  officiated 
on  the  occasion  were  the  Revs.  Messrs.  W.  Owens,  Pittsburg, 
and  David  Jenkins,  ECbensberg.  The  questions  respecting  the 
views  of  the  church  were  asked  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Owens  and 
they  were  answered  on  behalf  of  the  church  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Harris,  then  the  hand  of  fellowship  was  given  by  the  Rev.  D. 
Jenkins  to  Mr.  Thomas  Harris*  who  represented  the  church, 
and  at  the  same  meeting  Mr.  Thomas  Harris  was  set  apart 
to  the  deaconship,  after  which  the  Lord's  Supper  was  ad- 
ministered. See  "  Western  Star"  Sept.  1854.  ^^  ^^^  "  Johns- 
town Tribune  "  for  Dec,  1903,  the  following  names  are  given 
by  Mr,  Josiah  T,  Evans  as  being  among  the  first  members — 
Mr.  Evans  calls  them  "  charter  members  " — Jared  Williams, 
John  Bennett,  George  Ward,  David  Hailes  and  William 
Watkins.  In  addition  to  the  above  persons  among  the  early 
members  were  Mrs.  Jared  \\'illiams,  Mrs.  John  Barnett  and 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Henry  D.  Evans  (mother  of  Mine  In- 
spector Josiali  T.  Evans),  Caleb  Griffiths  and  wife,  now  Mrs. 
Lee,  residing  in  Carr  Street  (mother  of  Joshua  Griffiths  of 
Railroad  Street),  Benjamin  Watkins  and  his  sister  Mary 
Watkins,  William  Jones  and  his  sons  Thomas  and  Theophilus. 
Also  Isaac  Edmunds  and  wife,  and  John  Thomas  and  wife, 
though  not  published  with  the  above  list.  There  are  doubt- 
Jess  others  whom  we  know  not  of  now. 

The  church  held  its  meetings  in  the  school  at  the  foot  of 
Market  street,  where  the  high  school  building  now  stands. 
For  more  than  a  year  after  their  organization  they  depended 
chiefly  on  supplies  and  they  had  also  among  them  one  who 
preached  frequently  for  them,  i.e.,  Mr.  John  T.  Jones,  yet  they 
felt  the  need  of  a  pastor,  hence  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev. 
Ambrose  Williams,  who  began  his  labors  among  them  August, 
1855.  Mr.  Williams  had  been  ordained  at  Sirhow}",  Mon- 
mouthshire, Wales. 

He  came  to  America  in  the  same  month  and  settled  at 
Minersville,  Penna.,  preached  at  different  places  as  providence 
directed  until  August,  1855,  when  he  settled  as  the  first  pastor 
of  Johnstown,  and  it  is  very  evident  that  he  was  the  right  man 


*  The  above  Thomas  Harris  was  the  father  of  Mrs.   Davies,  wife  of  the 
Rev.  D.  Rhoslyn  Davies. 


REMIXISCENCES —AMERICA.  lOg 

for  the  place.  W'lien  he  cam 3  liere  the  church  was  small 
without  any  place  of  its  own  to  worship,  only  that  they  had  a 
lot  which  it  is  said  had  been  secured  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  Jarret  Williams.  But  as  pastor  and  people  had 
a  mind  to  work  thay  sjon  erected  a  commodious  brick  meeting 
house  on  their  lot  with  two  tenement  houses  in  the  basement, 
at  a  cost  of  2,200.00  dollars.  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  the 
exact  date  of  the  building  of  the  meeting  house  but  it  is  said 
to  have  beeu  in  1856.  It  was  erected  on  the  corner  of  Sugar 
Alley  and  Main  Street,  on  a  lot  given  from  the  estate  of  Dr. 
Peter  Shoenberger,  b}-  Michael  Berry  one  of  the  executors  of 
his  will  "  in  consideration  of  five  dollars  being  paid  by  Jarret 
Williams,  |ohn  Bennett  and  Henry  Evans,  trustees"  of  the 
church.  The  people  of  Johnstown  have  no  idea  of  the  great- 
ness of  their  indebtedness  to  the  late  Dr.  Peter  Shoenberger. 

Among  other  names  that  were  active  at  that  time  are  found 
Caleb  Griffiths,  Isaac  Edwards,  William  Jones,  Theophilus 
Jones,  Thomas  Eloyd.  John  Thomas  and  the  Rev.  John  Z. 
Jones  Thus  by  August,  1857  we  find  the  little  church  thorough- 
ly organized  both  in  a  scriptural  and  legal  sense.  Mr.  Williams 
remained  here  two  years  when  he  left  for  Wethersfield,  Ohio. 
During  his  pastorate  1,400.00  dollars  had  been  paid  on  the 
house.  Ten  were  received  b\-  baptism,  ig  by  restoration,  34 
by  letters,  which  made  63  additions  during  those  two  years. 
The  church  was  pastorless  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  Williams 
until  about  1858,  when  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Benjamin 
E.  Jones  of  Minersville,  Penna.,  who  had  just  finished  his 
course  at  Lewisburg.  Mr.  Jones  was  ordained  here  Deceniber 
7th,  1858.  The  Revs.  Wm.  Owens,  Pittsburg  ;  A.  H  Seui- 
bower,  then  pastor  of  the  English  Baptist  Church  of  Johnstown, 
and  others  officiated ;  Mr.  Jones  r  ^^ided  hare  for  a[)out  two 
years  when  he  resigned  and  l-ft  f  >r  the  eastern  part  of  the 
state. 

iNIr.  Jones  was  succeeded  by  tae  Rev.  Enoch  Evans  who 
preached  here  a  while  and  then  left  for  the  west.  I  know 
not  where. 

The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Reese  T.  Davis  who  served 
several  years  and  then  joined  the  Campbellites  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days  among  them. 

In  the  summer  of  i86g  the  church  extended  a  call  to  the 
Rev.  David  R.  Jones,  tl:en  of  Abercarn,  Wales.  Mr.  Jones 
was  considered  one  of  the  most  popular  preachers  of  his   day, 


no  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

both  in  Wales  and  America.  He  served  them  until  August, 
1873,  when  he  left  to  take  charge  of  the  Welsh  Baptist  Church 
of  Youngstown,  Ohio.  During  those  years  the  church  was 
strong  and  congregation  large.  During  the  pastorate  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Jones  the  writer  had  the  pleasure  of  preaching  two 
Sundays  for  the  English  Baptist  Church  of  Johnstown,  when 
he  received  a  call  from  them  to  succeed  the  late  Rev.  B.  W. 
Thomas,  which  however  he  could  not  then  accept,  and  thus  dur- 
ing those  two  weeks  he  had  an  opportunity  to  see  the  condition  of 
the  Welsh  Church,  yet  not  withstanding  that  Mr.  Jones  left 
with  the  respect  of  all  at  the  close  of  four  years  service  and 
Avent  to  Youngstown,  Ohio  Mr.  Jones  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  E.  Morddal  Evans,  who  had  been  ordained  in  the  early 
part  of  1873  ^1^  Frostburg.  Mr.  Evans  served  the  church 
about  one  year.  In  the  beginning  of  1876  a  call  wase.xtended 
to  the  Rev.  D.  J.  Evans  of  Irwin  Station,  and  was  accepted. 
His  ministry  was  very  much  blessed  According  to  a  report 
published  in  the  "  Wawr,"  twenty-seven  were  added  to  the 
church  during  the  first  six  months  of  his  pastorate,  thirteen  by 
baptism  and  fourteen  restored. 

Also  an  entertainment  was  held  by  the  Sunday  School  by 
which  they  made  over  60  dollars.  The  church  felt  very  much 
revived.  Mr.  Evans  continued  with  them  until  his  Master 
called  him  home  April  i6th,  1878. 

He  died  of  cancer  of  the  bowels  after  nine  weeks  illness. 
Mr.  Evans  was  the  first  Welsh  Baptist  minister  to  die  at 
Johnstown,  as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  find  out. 

Brother  Evans  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  D.  H.  Jones, 
M.D.,  M.A.,  in  September,  1878,  who  served  them  nearly  a 
yeir  and  left  them,  not  withstanding  their  efforts  to  retain  him. 
He  left  an  excellent  name  in  the  church  and  the  cit}-.  Dr. 
Jones  came  here  from  Colgate  University,  New  York,  and 
left  in  a  year  in  order  to  pursue  a  special  Medical  course  at 
Baltimore. 

Brother  Joseph  T.  Jones  was  called  as  next  pastor,  and  re- 
mained a  few  months  and  then  removed  to  Dodgeville,  W^is- 
consin.  In  the  interval  between  the  departure  of  brother.  J. 
T.  Jones  and  the  settlement  of  another  pastor,  the  church  was 
supplied  by  the  Rev.  Llewelyn  Rees.  The  ability  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Rees  is  well  known 

In  the  early  part  of  1882  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev. 


REMINISCENCES AMERICA.  II  J 

David  Jones  of  Shenan-doah,  Penna.,  and  he  entered  upon  his 
pastorate  the  first  Sunday  of  May,  1882.  Mr.  Jones  was  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Reese,  the  wife  of  our  beloved  brother 
John  E.'Reese,  now  faithful  and  active  members  in  the  Welsh 
Baptist  Church  of  Johnstown,  Penna.  Mr.  Jones  served 
faithfully  until  God  called  him  to  his  reward,  March  loth, 
1886.  In  the  sketch  of  his  life,  published  shortly  after  his 
death  he  was  spoken  of  very  highly  as  a  Christian,  Preacher, 
and  Pastor.  This  brother  was  the  second  pastor  that  this 
church  had  the  honor  of  burying. 

In  a  few  months  after  the  death  of  brother  David  Jones  the 
church  called  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Parry,  D.D.,  of  Pittston,  the 
call  was  accepted  and  he  entered  immediately  upon  his  work. 
Dr.  Parry  was  regarded  as  an  able  preacher  and  poet,  and  the 
church  felt  that  they  were  blessed  in  securing  such  an  ex- 
cellent pastor,  and  no  doubt  they  were,  but  after  serving  them 
with  great  acceptance  he  left  for  Wisconsin,  July,  1887. 

Dr.  Parry  was  the  last  stated  pastor  before  the  great  flood 
of  i88g,  when  more  than  2,000  lives  were  lost,  and  when  this 
church  like  many  more  lost  everything  they  had.  The  meeting 
house  built  in  1856  was  swept  away  by  this  flood.  This 
church  suffered  greatly  in  this  disaster,  not  only  was  their 
church  swept  away  but  its  contents  also,  and  the  loss  of  in- 
dividual property  and  human  lives  was  considerable.  Mrs. 
Evans,  widow  of  the  late  pastor,  David  Evans,  who  lived  in 
one  of  the  houses  in  the  basement  of  the  meeting  house  was 
drowned,  and  also  Mr.  Evan  Hughes  who  lived  in  the  other 
part,  and  Miss  Margaret  Hughes,  daughter  of  Mr.  Hughes 
was  so  badly  hurt  while  the  family  was  in  this  building,  that 
her  moans  when  she  was  carried  out  by  the  rescuing  friends 
were  most  pitiful.  The  body  of  her  father  was  never  recovered. 
Out  of  the  eff"ects  belonging  to  this  church  that  were  recovered 
out  of  the  great  floods  were  two  cupboards  containing  the 
Sunday  School  books,  which  were  of  course  so  damaged  that 
they  could  not  be  used,  one  ot  them  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  deacon  Thomas  Morgan,  and  also  the  communion  set  was 
recovered  in  the  same  cupboard,  also  a  little  cash  box  con- 
taining a  little  over  13  dollars.  Yet  though  the  churcli  had 
lost  everything  they  went  to  work  heroically  and  set  up  a  small 
temporary  l)uilding  in  the  rear  of  their  lot,  in  which  they  held 
all  of  their  services  until  their  present  commodious  church 
house  was  built.  Early  in  the  year  the  Rev.  George  Hague 
was  called  from  Sharon,  and  both  pastor  and  people  worked 
faithfully  until  the  present  home  was  completed  in  May,  1891. 


112  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

The  contractor  was  Mr.  John  Horn,  Johnstown  (Railroad 
Street),  who  finished  his  contract  in  May,  1891.  The  first 
sermon  was  preached  in  the  new  meeting  house  May  22,  1891, 
by  the  pastor,  Rev.  G.  Hague,  who  also  baptized  nine  the 
same  date  ;  a  month  later  the  dedicatory  services  were  held, 
when  the  Rev.  John  W.  Williams,  U.D  ,  Hyde  Park;  Rev. 
D.  Rhoslyn  Davies,  Pittsburg  ;  and  Rev.  John  Hague,  Ply- 
mouth, officiated.  Mr.  Hague  resigned  in  1893  and  returned 
to  Wales. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  E  M.  Jones,  who  served 
them  from  1893  to  1895,  ^"^1  then  left  to  take  charge  of  the 
Chatham  Street  Baptist  Church,  Pittsburg.  In  the  fall  of 
1896  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Williams  was  called,  who  remained  with 
them  until  the  fall  of  1900. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1900,  the  Rev.  John  T.  Griffiths 
of  Lansford,  Penna  ,  was  called,  who  preached  for  them  until 
March,  1903,  when  he  left  for  Edwardsdale,  Penna.  The 
following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  that  the  church  gave  on  his 
departure  from  them. 

To  whom  it  may  concern. 

This  is  to  certify  that  brother  and  sister  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
John  T.  Griffiths  are  members  in  good  standing  in 
our  church  and  are  at  their  own  request  dismissed  so 
as  to  join  with  some  sister  church  of  the  same  belief 
and  faith. 

For  sixteen  months  brother  Gritfiths  was  pastor  of  our 
church,  during  that  time  we  found  him  a  man  of  irre- 
proachable moral  conduct,  a  biblical  evangelistic  and 
earnest  preacher,  and  a  faithful,  conscientious,  sym- 
pathetic and  tireless  pastor.  We  part  with  him  re- 
luctantly and  with  the  very  best  wishes  for  his  per- 
sonal welfare  as  well  as  fervent  prayers  for  the 
success  of  his  labors  elsewhere. 

Yours  fraternally  in  behalf  of  the  Main  Street  Baptist 
Church,  Johnstown,  Penna. 

John   Rees, 

Church  Clerk. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  II3 

The  writer  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  D.  P.  David,  who 
served  them  one  year  and  then  returned  to  Wales.  The 
present  (igia)  pastor  is  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Roberts  who  went 
there  from  Wilks-Barre.  I  never  found  kinder  people  to 
preach  to  and  to  live  with  than  the  members  of  the  Welsh 
Baptist  Church  of  Johnstown,  and  I  wish  to  have  what  I  have 
found  respecting  their  history  in  print,  because  I  know  their 
records  were  destroyed  by  the  great  flood  of  1889. 

I  wish  to  acknowledge  gratefully  my  indebtedness  for  many 
of  the  facts  contained  in  this  article  to  my  old  friend  Mr.  Evan 
Jones,  Johnstown. 


<Js"^K(^ 


CHAPTER   XVII. 


lE^war^6^alc 


EDWARDSDALE  is  in  the  North-eastern  part  of  Penn- 
sylvannia,  near  the  city  of  Wilks-Barre,  in  Luzerne 
Co.  I  received  a  call  from  the  Immanuel  Baptist  Church 
of  Edwardsdale,  and  entered  upon  my  work  among  them 
in  March,  1903.  My  only  reason  for  coming  to  this  place 
was  that  I  might  be  nearer  Bethlehem,  and  after  having 
preached  among  them  we  decided  to  move  to  Edwardsdale; 
and  after  having  done  so  we  felt  more  comfortable  as  we 
were  once  more  settled. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  months  the  work  went  on 
pleasantly  and  prosperously,  the  congregations  were  grow- 
ing larger — several  were  baptized,  and  all  felt  encouraged. 

The  first  new  movement  here  was  the  establishment  of  an 
anniversary  day  in  commemoration  of  the  organization  of 
the  church. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  kind  was  held  Oct.  18,  1903,  when 
I  gave  an  historical  address  on  the  history  of  the  Baptists 
of  Edwardsdale,  which  was  published  by  request  in  a  pam- 
phlet, an  abstract  of  which  I  give  here  :  — 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  II5 

THE     IMiMANUEL     BAPTIST     CHURCH    OF 
EDWARDSDALE,  PA. 


This  church  dates  to  the  year  1885.  There  was  quite  a 
large  number  of  English  members  in  the  Welsh  church  who 
felt  that  it  was  necessary  to  have  English  preaching,  and 
inasmuch  as  the  Welsh  Church  did  not  think  it  expedient 
to  start  an  English  interest  in  connection  with  them,  those 
favoring  the  English  movement  decided  that  the  best  thing 
they  could  do  was  to  organize  themselves  into  an  indepen- 
dent English  Baptist  Church. 

The  first  meeting  for  this  purpose  was  held  October  i8th> 
1885,  at  the  house  of  Brother  Charles  Williams,  when  the 
following  were  present :  Daniel  Jenkins,  George  Jenkins, 
Henry  Harding,  Thomas  Husband,  Rich.  L.  Evans,  John 
Ellis  Anwyl,  and  Charles  Williams,  who  decided  to  organ- 
ize an  English  Baptist  Church.  D.  H.  Jenkins  was  elected 
clerk,  and  Charles  Williams  treasurer,  and  the  Rev.  B.  W. 
Thomas  was  invited  to  preach  for  them  at  Lloyd's  Hall  the 
following  Sunday. 

Though  the  first  meeting  was  held  October  18,  1885,  at 
the  house  of  Charles  Williams,  yet  it  was  at  the  house  of 
Henry  J.  Jenkins  on  Slocum  Street  that  the  permanent  or- 
ganization was  effected  November  5,  1885,  when  they  adop- 
ted their  confession  of  faith  (New  Hampshire),  and  elected 
the  following  officers:  Deacons,  H.  G.  Jenkins,  W.  R.  Price 
and  W.  B.  Lewis;  Treasurer,  Charles  Williams;  Clerk,  D. 
H.  Jenkins.  Pastor  B.  W.  Thomas  presided.  He  had  been 
called  October  25,  1885,  and  had  accepted  the  call. 

Constituent  members  (as  far  as  I  could  find  them):  Wil- 
liam Hatten,  Mamie  Griffiths,  Mrs.  W^eston,  Frances  Lewis, 
W.  B.  Lewis,  George  Jenkins,  Philip  Price,  Lydia  Price, 
Wm.  R.  Jones,  John  Ellis,  Dora  Ellis,  Mrs.  George  Jenkins, 
Lewis  Reese,  Wm.  Allen,  Mattie  Hatten,  Annie  Reese,  Fan- 
nie Phillips,  Henry  Harding,  Mrs.  Henry  Harding,  Harry 
Jones,  Lewis  Davies,  Charles  Williams,  Mrs.  Charles  Wil- 
liams, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Husband,  Susannah  Thomas, 
Mrs.  Ann  Belford,  x^nnie  Belford,  John  R.  Price,  Wm.  R. 
Price,  Miss  Hannah   Thomas,   Mr.  and   Mrs.  John    Hatton, 


Il6  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Mrs.  .Tames  Evans,  Mrs.  Wm.  Hatchwell,  Mrs.  Thos.  Evans, 
Mr.  David  Jenkins,  ^Miss  Mary  Jenkins,  Mr.  Thomas  Jones, 
Mr.  Evan  Davis,  Mrs.  Wm.  Parsons.  Miss  Mary  Tiiomas, 
Miss  Ray  Thomas,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Thomas,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Thomas,  Mr.  Wm.  M.  Williams,  Mr.  Enoch  Richards,  Mrs. 
Margaret  Allen,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Jones.  There  ma)'  be  others 
whose  names  we  have  not  been  able  to  find. 

Thus  the  organization  was  completed  under  the  name  of 
"  The  Immanuel  Baptist  Church."  The  Sunday  services  were 
held  in  Lloyd's  Hall  for  a  while.  B.  W.  Thomas  remained 
with  them  until  the  spring  of  1886,  when  he  left  for  Freedom, 
Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.Y.  The  work  had  been  prosperous  all 
through  the  winter,  and  the  church  felt  very  hopeful.  In  June, 
1886,  a  call  was  extended  to  the  then  Rev.  A.  J.  Morton  of 
Pomeroy,  Ohio.  Mr.  Morton  accepted  the  call  and  entered 
immediately  upon  his  work.  W'hen  he  came  on  the  church 
had  contracted  with  William  G.  Calley  to  build  the  present 
meeting  house  for  I2, 300.000.  This  sbows  that  the  church 
was  full  of  life,'  and  intended  to  live.  Both  church  and 
pastor  worked  with  all  their  might  in  connection  with  the 
meeting  house,  as  I  am  sure  they  were  anxious  to  have  their 
own  church  home.  We  may  state  here  that  Miss  Mary  Jane 
Jenkins,  daughter  of  brother  and  sister  Henry  J.  Jenkins, 
broke  the  first  sod  and  also  gave  the  communion  set.  After 
months  of  hard  work  and  much  anxi'ety,  the  meeting  house 
was  finished  and  dedicated  September  26,  27,  i885.  The 
dedicatory  services  were  held  as  follows:  Sunday  morning, 
opening  prayer  by  the  pastor  Rev.  A.  J.  Morton;  sermon  by 
the  Rev.  John  W.  Williams,  D.D.,  of  Scranton.  After- 
noon, prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cooper  of  England;  sermon 
by  Dr.  J.  W.  Williams.  Evening,  sermon  by  the  pastor 
Rev.  A.  J.  Morton.  Monday  evening,  the  Rev.  O.  W.  James, 
pastor  of  the  Welsh  Baptist  Church  of  Edwardsdale,  con- 
ducted the  meeting,  when  the  Rev.  Dr.  Williams  preached 
again  and  was  followed  by  addresses  by  Dr.  T.  C.  Edwards 
and  others. 

This  was  a  blessed  and  a  memorable  occasion:  large  con- 
gregations attended,  and  •'^1,250  were  raised,  of  which  the 
late  Mr  Daniel  Edwards  gave  *5oo.  All  had  worked  val- 
iantly. The  church  was  now  happily  settled  in  its  perman- 
ent home  and  well  equipped  for  its  work  and  mission  in  the 
community. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  II7 

Mr.  Morton  labored  successfully  here  until  May,  1888,  when 
he  left  to  take  charge  of  the  Welsh  Baptist  church  of 
Pittston.  Since  his  departure  the  church  has  been  served 
by  the  following  pastors:  Rev.  N.  Richards  from  Novem- 
ber, 1888,  to  April,  i8go;  Rev.  T.  E.  Richards  from  August, 
i8go,  Iro  February,  1894.  (It  was  during  tlie  latter's  pas- 
torate that  the  Dorrancetown  church  was  started.)  Rev. 
Charles  Embrey  from  April,  1896,  to  May,  1900;  Rev.  T.  P. 
Morgan  from  March,  1901,  to  June,  1902.  The  present  pas- 
tor, John  T.  Griffith,  came  here  from  Johnstown  March,  1903. 

Notwithstanding  the  many  changes  through  which  the 
Baptists  of  Edwardsdale  have  passed  tlirough  botli  Welsh 
and  English  since  1872,  yet  we  are  glad  to  see  that  they 
have  been  protected  and  prospered,  and  that  they  have  all  rea- 
sons to  rejoice  and  to  be  thankful.  Much  interest  was  added 
to  this  memorable  meeting  by  the  valuable  service  of  the 
following  noted  singers:  solo,  Mrs.  John  Thomas;  duet, 
Prof.  G.  E.  Mason  and  E.  K.  Fry,  Wilkesbarre;  solo,  Mr. 
Edward  Griffiths;  duet,  Mrs.  Margaret  Parsons  and  Annie 
Belford  ;  Solo,  John  A.  Jenkins  ;  quartette,  Mathew  Davies, 
John  D.  Evans,    Mrs.  Parsons,  Annie  Belford. 

This  was  a  memorable  meeting. 

In  the  winter  of  1904 — mv  dear  wife's  health  tailed — so  that 
in  the  spring  of  1904  1  had  to  break  up  my  home  in  Kingston 
at  the  advice  of  the  doctor,  and  remove  my  wife  to  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Jane  Roberts,  Bethlehem.  She  was  \-ery  sick 
all  the  summer  and  was  not  expected  to  recover,  but  by  the 
fall  she  had  so  far  recovered  that  we  were  able  to  iiio\'e  back  to 
Edwardsdale — but  in  December,  1904.  she  was  taken  ill  again, 
and  on  Saturday  morning,  January  28th,  1905,  aher  along  and 
painful  illness  her  spirit  returned  to  God.  Monday,  January 
30th,  her  body  was  taken  to  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  and  was  buried 
in  Niskin  Cemetery. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  at  the  Emmanuei  Baptist 
Church,  Edwardsdale,  conducted  by  the  Rev.  B.  F.  G.  McGee, 
D.D.,  of  Wilkesbarre  :  assisted  by  Revs.  D.  C.  Edwards  Tay- 
lor, J.  M.  Lloyd,  D.D.,  and  J.  D wight  Roberts,  Wilkesbarre, 
of  the  Baptist  Churches;  and  D.  E.  E\-ans,  M.D.,  T.  C. 
Edwards,  D.D.,  and  Mr.  Jones  of  the  Congregational  Churches, 
Edwardsdale,  and  L.  Ton  Evans  of  the  Welsh  Baptist  ( 'lunch. 
The    cortege    then    proceeded    to   the    Lehigh    \'alley   station, 


Il8  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

Wilkesbarre,  to  be  borne  by  train  for  interment  at  Bethlehem, 
Pa.  Pastor  Richards  of  Slatmgton,  and  Dwyer  of  Bethlehem, 
assisted  Pastor  McGee  in  the  services  at  the  grave. 

The  pall-bearers  were  :  Messrs.  Thomas  Husband,  Henry 
Harding,  Thomas  Harlow,  James  Middleton,  H.  W.  Newman, 
John  T.  Jenkins,  William  S.  Evans  and  Isaac  Jones. 

She  left  to  mourn  her  loss,  her  beloved  husband,  two  sons, 
one  daughter,  three  grand-children,  one  sister  and  many  friends. 

Thus  the  reader  may  see  that  the  years  1904  and  1905  were 
very  trying  years  to  me — yet  they  were  among  my  most  pros- 
perous years  in  a  spiritual  sense — I  baptized  nearly  a  hundred 
at  Edwardsdale  that  year.  After  the  death  and  burial  of  my 
dear  wife  I  broke  up  my  home,  and  made  my  home  for  over 
two  years  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  T.  Lewis  on  Hillside 
Avenue,  and  found  them  very  kind. 

In  the  spring  of  1906  I  visited  Wales  after  an  absence  of 
twenty  three  years. 

Before  my  departure  for  Wales,  my  church  at  Edwardsdale 
gave  me  a  farewell  reception  Friday  evening,  April  20th,  1906. 
Monday  morning,  April  23rd,  I  left  Wilkesbarre  for  New  York 
by  the  Lehigh  Valley.  I  was  met  at  Jersey  City  by  my  cousin, 
Mrs  Lydia  C.  Hall  who  kindly  entertained  me  during  my  stay 
at  New  York — Sailed  Tuesday,  April  24th,  at  4.54  p.m.,  in  the 
Caronia.  I  had  as  travelling  companions  the  Revs.  George 
E.  Rees,  D.D.,  of  Philadelphia,  and  J.  C.  Hughes,  B.A  ,  of 
Scranton  After  a  very  pleasaiit  voyage  we  landed  at  Liver- 
pool Wednesday,  May  2nd.  Just  before  we  landed  I  received 
the  following  kind  note  on  board  the  steamer  : — 

21,  Wadham  Road, 

P^ootle,  Liverpool, 

England, 

May  I,  1906. 
My  dear  Brother  Griffith, 

Through  the  kindness  of  the  Rev.  E.  K.  Jones  of  Brymbo, 
I  have  been  informed  that  you  are  to  land  to-day  in 
Liverpool,  and  it  is  a  great  pleasure   to   me   to  come 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  II9 

to  meet  you  at  the  landing  stage.  I  will  be  grateful  to 
you  if  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to  speak  to  me  first.  I 
shall  be  standing  by  the  gangway,  and  if  you  speak 
to  the  tallest  man  that  you  see  there  it  will  be  more 
than  likely  that  I  will  be  that  person.  If  there  hap- 
pens to  be  more  tlian  one  tall  person  there,  you  may 
know  me  by  my  grey  hair  and  by  my  face  which  is 
shaven  all  e.xcept  the  upper  lip.  1  think  that  there 
will  be  other  brethren  there  also  and  we  will  all  be 
glad  to  see  you  as  well  as  to  be  at  your  service. 

My  best  wishes  to  you, 
Sincerely  yours, 

Peter  Willams  (Pedr  Hir). 


It  is  easier  to  imagine  than  to  describe  my  feelings  when  I 
read  the  above  note — I  can  never  forget  the  cordial  welcome 
given  me  by  the  Revs.  Peter  Williams,  D.  Powell  and  }. 
Davies  at  Liverpool,  May  2,  igo6.  My  friends  Revs.  Anthony 
Williams  and  E.  K  Jones  had  arranged  preaching  and  lectur- 
ing engagements  for  me,  which  kept  me  busy  week  evenings 
and  Sundays  until  August.  1  began  at  Br^'mbo  the  first  Sun- 
day in  May,  where  the  Rev.  E.  K.  Jones  is  pastor,  and  ended 
Sunday,  August  12th,  at  Clydach,  near  Swansea,  where  my 
old  friend  the  Rev.  T.  Valentine  Evans  is  pastor.  I  found 
nothing  but  kindness  in  all  Wales.  I  made  my  headquarters 
with  my  dear  cousins  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evan  Rees,  Gadlys,  near 
Llangynwyd,  Maesteg.      I  feel  very  grateful  to  them. 

August  14,  I  sailed  for  New  York  in  the  Carmania,  and 
arrived  at  Edwardsdale  Wednesday  evening,  Aug.  22,  igo6. 

I  published  twelve  letters  on  "  Rambles  in  Wales"  in  the 
"  Western  Recorder,"  all  of  which  may  be  seen  in  two  of 
my  scrap  books.  The  following  items  will  show  the  extent 
of  my  tour  in  Wales  in  igo6  :  — 

TRIP  TO  WALES  IN  1906. 
April  24th,  sailed  from  New  York  in  the  Caronia,  having 


I20  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

with  me  the  Rev.  J.  Cromwell  Hughes  and  Dr.  G.  E.    Rees, 
of  Philadelphia. 


May  2nd,  landed  in  Liverpool.     Had  a  fine  voyage. 


PLACES  WHERE  I  PREACHED  AND  LECTURED 
IN  WALES  IN  1906. 


May  6th  and  7th,  at  Brymbo,  North  Wales — yearly  meet- 
ing. Rev.  D.  Hughes  preached  with  me.  Rev.  E.  K. 
Jones,  pastor. 


May  8th,  at  Penycae,  North  Wales,     Rev.    W.    B.  Jones, 
pastor. 

May  9th,  at  RhosUanerchrhugog.  Rev.  E.Williams,  pastor. 

May  loth,  at  Cefnmawr — lecture,  "  Morgan  John  Rhys." 
Rev.  R.  G.  Roberts,  pastor. 

May  nth,  at  G!ynceiriog.     Rev.  J.  L.  Jones,  pastor. 

Sunday,  May  13th,  2t  Welsh  Baptist  Church,  Llangollen. 
No  pastor. 

May  14th,  at  Corwen.     Rev.  H.  C.  Williams,  pastor. 

May     i6th,    at    Calvary,     Blaenau    Ffestiniog — lecture, 
"Morgan  John  Rhys."     Rev.  E.  C.  Jones,  pastor. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  121 

Alay  17th,  Bala.     No  pastor. 

May    i8th,   Bangor    Baptist   College— lecture,    "Morgan 
John  Rhys." 

Sunday,  May  20th,  at  Llangefni.     No  pastor.     Christmas 
Evans  was  pastor  of  this  church  from  1792  to  1826. 


.May  2ist,  at  Hill-cliffe,  the  oldest  known  Baptist  Church 
in  England — dates  from  1^22. 


May  22nd,  at  Brymbo — lecture,  "  Morgan  John  Rhys." 
Sunday,  May  27th,  Castle  st.  Baptist  Church,  London. 

Sunday,  June  3rd,  and  Monday,  June  4th,  at  Noddfa,  Pen- 
ydarren — yearly  meeting.  Rev.  D.  Price,  Tabernacle,  Mer- 
thyr,  preached  with  me.     No  pastor. 

June  7th,  at  Troedyrhiw — Welsh.     Rev.  J.  Jones,  pastor. 


June  8th,  at  Hirwaun.     Rev.  G.  Hague,  Pastor. 

Sunday,  June  loth,  at  Calvary,  Aberdare.  Rev.  J.  Grif- 
fiths, pastor.     He  is  on  a  visit  in  America. 

June  nth,  Noddfa,  Treorchy — yearly  meeting.  Revs.  H. 
Jones,  Llanelly,  and  D.  Price,  Merthyr,  preached  also. 
Rev.  W.  Morris,  D.D.,  pastor. 


122  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

June    i6-i8th,   Nebo,  Ystrad — yearly  meetings.     Rev.  J. 
Jenkins  (Gwili)  preached  with  me.  Rev.  A.Williams,pastor. 


June  20th  and  21st,  at  the  East  Glamorganshire  Welsh 
Baptist  Association  at  Hengoed.  I  preached  at  10  a.m. 
Thursday.  Revs.  Charles  Davies,  Cardiff,  and  R.  Lloyd^ 
Cardiff,  preached  with  me. 


Sunday,  June  24th,  at  Zion,  Pentre,  Rhondda.  No  pastor. 


June    26th,    at   the     Carmarthenshire,    &c.,    Association, 
at  Pontardulais — gave  an  address  in  the  evening. 

June  28th,  at  Pisgah,  Kenfig  Hill.     Rev.  T.  M.  Williams, 
pastor. 

July  ist,  at  Trealaw,  Rhondda.     No  pastor. 


July  2nd,  at  Zion,  Porth.     Rev.  D.  D.  Hopkins,  pastor. 

July  3rd,  at   Tyla-Gwyn,   Garw — lecture,  "  Morgan  John 
Rhys."     Rev.  T.  B.  Phillips,  pastor. 

July  5th,  at  Tabernacle,   Cardiff.     Rev.    Charles   Davies, 
pastor. 

Sunday,  July  8th,  at  Rhos,  Mountain  Ash.     No  pastor. 
July  nth,  at  Caersalem,  Dowlais.  Rev.  J.  B.  Jones,  pastor. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I23 

July  i2th,  atNoddfa,  Penydarren— lecture,  "  Morgan  John 
Rhys."     No  pastor. 


July  15th,  at  Penuel,  Rhymney.    Rev.  G.  Griffiths,  pastor. 
July  i8th,  at  Penrhyncoch.     Rev,  Henry  Evans,  pastor. 


July  22nd,   at  Bethany,   Maesteg.     Rev.    lorwerth  Jones, 
pastor. 

July   29th,    at   Pontyclun   Yearly   Meeting.     Rev.  J.    M. 
Elias,  pastor. 

July  30th,  at  Croesyparc.     No  pastor. 

July   31st,   at    Zion,     Llanelly — lecture,    "  Morgan    John 
Rhys."     Rev.  E.  T.  Jones,  pastor. 

August  ist,  at  Pembrey.     Rev.  R.  E.  Williams,  pastor. 

August  2nd,  at  Penuel,  Carmarthen.     No  pastor. 


Sunday,  August  5th,  at  Hope,  Gelli,  Rhondda.    No  pastor, 
but  have  called  one. 


August  8th,   at   Penuel,  Cwmavon.     Rev.    R.  S.   Morris, 
pastor. 

August  1 2th,  at  Calvary,    Clydach.     Rev.  T.    V.    Evans, 
pastor. 


124  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

August    14th,  sailed   from    Liverpool    in    the    Carmania, 
C   Deck — 91,  second  cabin. 


August  22nd,  landed  in  New  York,  and  reached  my  home 
at  Edwardsdale  in  the  evening.  For  daily  notes  of  my 
voyage  see  my  diary. 


The  church  and  people  at  Edwardsdale  gave  me  a  very  cor- 
dial welcome  on  my  return  from  Wales.  The  great  question 
that  troubled  the  church  now  was  the  remodelling  and  en- 
larging of  the  meeting  house — which  was  finally  settled  by 
deciding  to  enlarge  it  and  renovate  it,  which  was  done  during 
the  summer  of  1907 — whilst  this  was  being  done  we  wor- 
shipped in  the  meeting  house  of  the  ^Velsh  Calvinistic 
Methodists,  who  very  kindly  permitted  us  to  do  so,  though 
this  interfered  very  much  with  our  congregations  during 
some  months,  yet  we  were  thankful  for  it,  and  were  glad 
when  the  time  came  for  us  to  return  to  our  own  church 
home  in  its  very  much  improved  condition,  and  we  soon 
saw  an  impro\ement  in  our  congregations. 

Friday  afternoon,  June  21,  1907,  I  was  united  in  holy 
matrimony  to  .Miss  Mary  Davies  of  Risca,  Wales,  at  the 
home  of  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Hughes,  B.A..  Scranton,  Pa.,  by  the 
Rev.  J.  C.  Hughes,  B.A.,  and  the  Rev.  B.  D.  Thomas,  D.D., 
Toronto,  Canada. 

March  24th,  1908,  I  resigr^ed  my  pastorate  in  order  to 
return  to  Wales.  Friday  e\enmg,  April  24th,  the  friends 
held  a  farewell  meeting  at  the  church,  whicli  was  reported 
as  follows  :  — 

EMMANUEL    BAPTIST    CHURCH,  EDWARDS- 
VILLE,     PA. 

VALEDICTORY  RECEPTION  held  in  honour  of  Rev. 
Dr.  J.  T.  Griffiths,  on  the  eve  of  his  departure  for  ^^^ales, 
under  the  united  auspices  of  The  Emmanuel  Baptist  Church, 
The  Congregational  Pastors,  The  Baptist  Ministerial  Union, 


REMINSISCENCF. — AMERICA.  1 25 

The  Gwent  Glee  Society,  and  the  citizens  in  geneial. 
Friday  Evening,  April  24,  1908,  at  7.30  o'clock. 


Hymn — "  Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds." 
Prayer — Rev.  R.  E.  Williams,  Parson. 
Dr.  T.  C.  Edwards — Chairman. 
Rev.  Jacob  G.  Davies,  M.A., — Sec.  L. 


There  are  some  friends  absent  to-night  who  have  sent 
their  regrets,  with  greetings  to  the  departing  family.  One 
is  the  Rev.  D.  E.  Evans,  M.D.,  Trelech,  of  Kingston  who 
writes  :  "  Rev.  John  Griffith,  D.D.  Dear  Brother  ; — Cir- 
cumstances will  not  permit  me  to  be  with  you  this  evening, 
therefore  I  send  these  few  lines  to  represent  my  thoughts 
and  feelings.  You  and  I  have  known  one  another  for 
many  years  ;  I  think  that  I  know  you  well.  I  wish  you  a 
most  happy  voyage  to  good  '  Hen  Wlad,'  and  after  you 
reach  the  principality  may  perfect  health  be  extended  to 
you  and  to  Mrs.  Griffiths.  May  you  also  succeed  to  preach 
"the  blessed  Christ  to  the  glorious  end. 

Sincerely   yours, 

D.  E.  Evans,  M.D.  (Trelech)." 

Another  is  the  Rev.  Theophilus  Davies,  of  Plains,  Pa., 
who  writes  :  "  To  the  Secretary  of  the  Reception  Commit- 
tee of  the  Farewell  Reception  to  Dr.  Griffiths.  Dear  Sir 
and  Brother  : — I  deeply  regret  being  absent  from  the  fare- 
well meeting  which  is  to  be  held  to-morrow  evening  in 
honour  of  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffiths,  D.D.,  and  his  esteemed  wife.  I 
fully  intended  to  be  there,  but  matters  that  could  not  be 
avoided  have  interfered  with  my  plans.  Being  so,  may  I 
pray  you  not  only  to  convey  my  sincere  regret  at  not  being 
with  you  to  partake  of  the  good  things  that  will  be  enjoyed, 
but  also  please  convey  my  best  wishes  to  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Griffiths.  He  was  one  of  the  first  ministers  (and  the  first  of 
all  the  Baptists)  that  I  had  the  pleasure  of  knowing  when 


126  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

I  came  to  America  in  the  year  1881.  I  imagine  many  good 
and  kind  words  said  of  him  at  the  reception,  but  whatever 
the  good  words  may  be,  or  from  whatever  source  they 
come,  it  is  pleasing  to  me  to  feel  that  after  twenty-seven 
years  of  intimate  acquaintance  that  none  too  good  can  be 
said.  I  esteem  him  highly  as  a  Christian  gentleman  and  as 
a  Minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  a  co-worker  in  the  Lord's 
vineyard.  We  feel  that  we  cannot  well  afford  to  lose  him, 
but  it  seems  that  he  is  going  to  leave  this  section  of  the 
field  for  another,  and  we  trust  under  the  Master's  super- 
vision. Therefore  we  wish  him  and  Mrs.  Griffith  God  speed. 
Fraternally  yours,  Theophilus  Davies." 

Dr.  T.  C.  Edwards  : 

"  People  claim  relationship,  spiritual  relationship,  with 
Dr.  Griffiths  on  both  sides  of  the  river  and  among  all  de- 
nominations. It  is  a  pleasure  to  meet  a  man  that  is  broad 
enough  to  touch  people  outside  of  his  own  limited  circle. 
During  the  years  that  Dr.  Griffiths  has  been  here,  he  and  I 
have  been  laboring  together,  and  I  think  it  is  the  experience 
of  all  those  who  have  been  doing  Christian  service  in  this 
community  that  we  found  him  a  willing  worker  and  a 
strenuous  worker  and  a  diligent  plodder  in  the  Lord's 
vineyard,  and  we  all  look  up  to  him  as  a  man  of  great 
experience  and  of  deep  piety,  a  man  of  strong  affections,  a. 
steady  worker,  a  man  who  has  moved  along  with  a  steady 
gait  through  the  various  circumstances  that  will  inevitably 
meet  everybody  who  tries  to  do  his  duty  in  the  Lord's 
work  and  who  has  held  on  until  he  has  reached  what  he 
considers  the  end  of  his  time  here.  Now  he  deems  that  it 
is  time  to  move  and  he  trusts  that  he  is  in  God's  hands  and 
under  God's  direction.  We  hope  so  too  and  we  say  to- 
night "  Good-bye "  with  best  wishes  for  his  continued 
prosperity  in  his  native  land,  and  I  know  that  we  echo  the 
sentiments  of  these  letters  in  our  best  wishes  to  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Griffiths.  Those  who  have  been  with  him  in  the 
church  circle  are  those  who  have  got  closest  to  him  after 
all,  and  you  of  the  Emmanuel  Baptist  Church  will  feel  his 
loss  the  keenest,  and  at  this  point  it  would  be  the  best  ar- 
rangement, I  think  to  have  Mr.  Newman  say  a  word  about 
him  as  "  Our  Pastor."  The  Committee  had  intended  Miss 
Thomas  to  speak  of  him  as  "  Our  Leader,"  but  she  has 
asked  Mr.  Newman  to  speak  for  her,  as  he  has  been  speak- 
ing so  well  for  years." 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I27 

Mr.  H.  W.  Newman  : 

"  Mr.  Chairman,  Brothers  and  Sisters  and  Friends  :  It  is 
not  my  intention  to-night  to  take  any  more  of  your  time 
than  I  deem  absolutely  necessary.  I  am  told  that  there 
are  some  great  orators  to  follow  me,  men  who  can  soar. 
Now  it  is  not  my  intention  to  soar  to-night.  If  I  did  it 
might  l3e  disastrous  to  myself,  as  well  as  to  some  of  the 
audience,  so  I  will  give  you  a  few  brief  facts  of  the  history 
of  Dr.  Grilifiths  while  he  has  been  pastor  of  this  church. 

Dr.  Griffiths  came  here  as  our  pastor  five  years  ago  on 
the  first  of  April.  Previous  to  becoming  our  pastor  he 
had  preached  for  us  several  times  as  a  supply.  He  found 
this  church  a  struggling  band  of  loi  members.  He  leaves 
it  with  a  membership  of  234.  The  increase  has  been  as 
follows  : 

By  baptism — in. 
By  letter— 18. 
By  experience — 13. 
By  restoration — -35. 

The  decreases  have  been  : 
By  letter — 17. 
By  death— 8. 
By  exclusion — -11. 

Since  Dr.  Griffiths  has  been  here  we  have  been  called 
upon  to  mourn  among  the  departed  Deacons :  Thomas 
Harlow  and  Henry  Harding,  two  men  who  were  strong  in 
the  faith  and  pillars  in  the  church. 

Also  we  were  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  the  wife 
of  our  beloved  pastor,  a  woman  well  and  favorably  known, 
both  as  a  faithful  Christian  lady  and  a  loyal  and  devoted 
wife. 

While  Dr.  Griffiths  has  been  with  us  the  church  has  been 
enlarged  at  a  cost  of  •'?3,ooo,  one  third  of  which  has  been 


128  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 


paid,  and   we  think  that   in   due   time  everything  will  be 
accomplished. 

The  church  is  not  severing  its  connections  with  Dr. 
Gri tilths ;  Dr.  Griffiths  is  severing  his  relations  with  the 
church.  Dr.  Griffiths  has  not  been  asked  to  resign.  He 
could  have  remained  pastor  as  long  as  he  lived,  even  if  his 
life  had  been  as  long  as  that  of  some  of  our  progenitors 
before  the  deluge.  He  is  highl_v  beloved  by  the  church,  by 
the  community,  and  by  all  who  Icnow  him,  but  there  is  a 
magnet  that  is  drawing  him  away  from  this  community, 
and  that  is  his  native  land.  The  flowers  bloom  more 
brightly  and  the  birds  sing  more  sweetly  there.  We  are 
expecting  something  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Griffiths  that 
will  immortalize  his  name  and  enrich  our  libraries,  pro- 
vided we  can  afford  to  obtain  it.  About  two  years  ago 
last  April  we  thought  Dr.  Griffiths  was  a  little  bit  restless, 
but  at  his  earnest  request  we  bade  him  good-bye  and  he 
packed  his  trunk  and  departed  for  that  land  of  flowers,  to 
him  the  most  like  Paradise  of  all.  We  thought  he  would 
return  perfectly  settled,  but  we  were  mistaken.  When 
Brother  Griffiths  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  meet  that  of 
his  brethren  on  the  other  side  there  was  more  magnetism 
and  it  stole  his  heart  away  from  us.  Dr.  Griffiths  returned, 
but  his  heart  was  in  Wales  as  you  will  hear  later  on  no 
doubt.  He  was  shortly  followed  by  the  lady  w-ho  became 
his  bride.  The  church  received  her  with  outstretched  arms 
and  tried  to  make  her  feel  at  home  in  our  midst.  We 
found  her  to  be  a  good  Sunday  School  teacher  and  we  also 
found  her  of  great  service  in  the  church,  so  we  will  miss 
Mrs.  Griffiths,  if  possible,  nearly  as  much  as  we  will  Dr. 
Griffiths  himself.  When  Dr.  Griffiths  presented  his  resigna- 
tion over  a  year  ago  we  were  much  surprised,  but  we  got  him 
to  remain  here  a  little  while  longer,  but  now,  like  Cortez  who 
when  he  came  to  conquer  Mexico  burned  his  ships,  so  Dr. 
Griffiths  sold  his  property  and  packed  up  his  belongings 
before  he  made  his  intentions  known.  So  I  say  for  myself 
and  for  the  church,  "  Good-bye,  Dr.  Griffiths,  good-bye, 
Mrs.  Griffiths."  When  w-e  meet  in  Paradise  I  shall  say, 
"  Good  morning,  isn't  this  a  pleasant  day  ?" 

Rev.  R.  E.  Williams,  Ph.D.,  Parsons. 


REMINISCENXES AMERICA.  I29- 

Resolutions  drafted  by  the  Committee  appointed  b}'  the 
Ministe'rial  Union  of  Wyoming  : 

Whereas,  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffiths,  D.D.,  has  tendered  his 
resignation  as  pastor  of  the  English  Baptist 
Church,  Edwardsville,  with  a  view  to  settlement 
in  \^'ales,  and  the  same  has  been  reluctantly  ac- 
cepted by  the  Church. 

Resolved,  that  we,  the  members  of  the  Wy(Mning 
Baptist  Ministerial  Association  express  our  sincere 
appreciation  of  his  long  and  forceful  ministry  in 
Pennsylvania.  His  abundant  labors  in  many  fields 
in  our  state  have  proved  very  successful.  We  note 
with  interest  his  spirit  of  sacrifice  in  connection 
with  the  planting  of  several  churches.  His  splen- 
did services  to  the  Baptist  work  in  Pennsylvania 
during  the  last  forty-three  years  will  be  gratefully 
remembered  in  coming  years. 

Resolved,  that  we  express  our  appreciation  of  his 
worth  as  a  member  of  our  Conference.  In  fact,  it 
was  at  his  suggestion  that  we  organized  it.  We 
found  his  counsels  wise  and  timely  and  his  fellow- 
ship very  valuable. 

Resolved,  that  we  wish  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Griffiths  many 
years  of  faithful  and  energetic  service  in  the 
Fatherland,  and  when  the  day's  work  is  done  and 
the  shadows  gather,  an  abundant  entrance  into 
the  heavenly  rest. 

(Signed)     R.  E.  Willl\ms. 
D.  R.  Davies. 
O.  W.  Cook. 


130  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

The  Chairman  has  kindly  allowed  me  to  have  my  little 
say  right  here  as  I  have  to  leave  before  the  service  ends. 
I  have  been  thinking  that  the  people  who  come  from  the 
Old  Country  here  after  all  have  no  country.  Somebody 
made  the  statement  that  all  emigrants  that  come  here  after 
awhile  feel  they  have  no  country  at  all.  They  belong  here 
and  they  belong  over  there,  and  they  hardly  know  where 
the\  do  belong.  It  reminds  me  of  an  incident  that  occured 
during  the  civil  war. 

There  was  an' old  farmer  in  the  south  upon  whose  grounds 
the  Union  and  Confederate  forces  had  both  been  foraging, 
and  he  complained  very  bitterly  because  they  had  stolen 
his  crops.  Turning  to  a  bystander  he  said  :  '  1  am  not  tak- 
ing either  side  on  this  great  question  of  Civil  War,  but  by 
gosh,  both  sides  have  got  me.'  Thai  is  the  way  it  seems 
to  us.  We  feel  that  the  other  side  has  a  grip  on  us, 
and  this  side  has  a  grip  on  us.  One  would  think 
that  after  so  many  years  in  this  country  Dr.  Grif- 
fiths would  be  the  last  man  in  the  world  to  have  any 
desire  to  go  to  the  other  side,  but  you  see  that  after  all 
these  years  of  service,  of  all  these  years  of  fellowship,  after 
gathering  around  his  life  so  many  liraditions  and  memories 
that  bind  him  to  this  state,  he  still  feels  that  he  has  to  go 
to  the  other  side.  Now  he  went  to  the  other  side  last  year. 
He  knew  what  he  was  going  for  then.  He  had  a  splendid 
purpose  then,  and  he  accomplished  it  splendidly,  and  we 
thought  that  the  question  of  going  the  other  side  had  been 
definitely  settled  ;  that  there  was  no  more  other  side  after 
he  got  his  wife  on  this  side,  but  he  is  bound  to  go  to  the 
other  side. 

I  am  glad  of  this  gathering.  It  is  a  splendid  testimonial 
to  his  worth  and  the  worth  of  his  companion.  You  have 
done  yourself  great  credit  in  coming  out  in  this  fashion 
to-night,  and  I  want  to  say  that  these  resolutions  refer  to 
his  abundant  labour.  He  has  laboured  as  few  men  have 
laboured.  He  has  been  called  into  service  as  few  men  have 
been  called  into  it,  and  I  happened  to  pick  up  the  '  Com- 
monwealth '  to-day.  It  was  '  Commonwealth '  of  last 
March,  I  think,  and  I  was  reading  an  article  in  that  on  his 
ministrv,  and  I  want  to  relate  a  little  incident  that  will 
throw  a  great  deal  of  light    on   him.     Now  Dr.  Griffiths,  if 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  13! 

he  is  anything,  is  a  Baptist.  He  is  a  big  friend  to  the 
Chairmtin,  but  he  is  a  Baptist  out  and  out  notwithstanding. 
He  is  a  Baptist  of  the  Baptists.  I  want  to  say  that  at  tliis 
time  they  wanted  to  organize  a  Sunday  School.  He  started 
with  a  little  handful  of  people,  and  he  said,  '  You  ought  to 
have  a  Sanday  School.'  They  said,  '  We  have  no  money  to 
have  a  Sunday  School.'  He  sent  word  to  Philadelphia,  and 
told  them  to  appropriate  that  money  that  was  part  of  his 
salary,  which  was  50  dollars,  to  organize  this  Sunday  School 
to  start  the  work  there.  Now  T  would  gladly  have  said 
this  and  a  great  deal  more  in  his  absence,  but  I  am  glad  to 
say  this  in  his  presence  as  one  of  possibly  very  many  deeds 
of  this  sort  that  we  know  nothing  of,  sacrifices  that  indi- 
cate how  interested  he  has  always  been  in  the  Master's 
work.  It  is  a  comparatively  easy  matter  to  be  the  pastor 
of  a  large  church  and  come  in  the  morning  and  evening  to 
speak  to  a  large  congregation,  but  it  means  something  else 
to  meet  a  little  handful  of  people — say  a  dozen  or  two 
dozen  -and  to  be  inspired  in  the  preaching,  to  preach  with 
conviction  and  to  get  results  under  those  conditions. 

Our  Brother  Griffiths  has  done  lots  and  lots  of  work  of 
this  kind,  and  eternity  alone  will  reveal  what  a  large  share 
a  worker  of  this  kind  has  in  the  building  up  of  the  kingdom 
of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ.  I  would  say  that 
the  work  he  did  when  standing  with  the  little  handful  of 
people  here  and  there  and  over  there,  all  over  this  *state, 
was  perhaps  the  strongest  work,  tlie  most  permanent  work 
of  his  ministry. 

It  requires  a  great  deal  of  manhood  and  a  great  deal  of 
sacrifice  to  continue  a  v\ork  of  this  kind.  For  thirty  nine 
years  or  more  he  has  done  this  kind  of  work,  and  long  after 
he  is  gone  this  work  will  multiply  and  give  new  force,  and 
the  angels  in  heaven  alone  will  know  what  it  meant  when 
he  said,  '  Brethren,  let  us  organize  a  Baptist  Church  here," 
and  he  infused  his  spirit  into  that  little  handful  of  people, 
and  they  in  turn  infused  it  into  others,  and  that  is  why  we 
have  so  many  of  these  churches  in  our  state  to-day.  I  wish 
him  well.  I  wish  his  partner  in  life  well.  May  the  Lord 
take  care  of  them  and  give  them  a  successful  voyage,  and 
after  they  get  back  to  Wales,  I  hope  they  will  get  so  full  of 
unrest  that  they  will  say  after  a  little  while,  '  Well,  we  will 
have  to  go  back,  after  all  there  is  no  place  like  home — that 


132  REMINISCENXES — AMERICA. 

is,  our  American  home.'  And  I  do  iiope  that  they  will 
have  many  years  of  service.  Our  brother  is  going  back  to 
do  some  writing,  but  why  cannot  he  stay  here  and  do  that 
writing  ?  Why  cannot  he  stay  here  and  write  about  our 
wonderful  doings  in  this  valley,  and  wind  up  his  career 
with  us,  and  in  the  midst  of  scenes  where  he  has  laboured 
for  so  many  years.  May  the  Lord  bless  you  and  enable 
you  to  go  working  until  you  appear  before  the  God  in 
Zion." 

Rev.  Jacob  E.  Davies,  M.A.,  Nanticoke : 

"Brother  Williams  has  covered  most  of  the  ground  with 
the  exeeption  of  a  few  things.  Many  a  day  has  begun  very 
cloudy,  but  before  the  sun  has  set  the  clouds  that  darkened 
the  sky  in  the  morning  have  been  scattered,  then  driven 
away,  and  the  sun  has  set  in  all  its  glory.  The  morning  of 
Dr.  Griffith's  life  was  a  cloudy  one.  He  began  his  life  from 
three  years  on  almost  as  an  orphan  boy.  He  lost  his  mother 
at  three  years  of  age  and  lost  his  father  when  he  was  about 
fourteen  years  of  age,  and  so  his  life  commenced  quite 
cloudy,  and  it  was  only  by  hard,  constant  and  unbroken 
toil  day  and  night  that  he  accomplished  the  desire  of  his 
heart  and  attained  the  position  where  he  now  stands. 

The  world  never  gave  forth  a  better  or  nobler  man  than 
Dr.  Griffiths.  It  may  have  given  forth  other  good  men,  but 
no  better,  because  the  life  of  Dr.  Griffiths  will  remain  be- 
fore us  for  evermore.  His  works  will  remain  after  he  has 
gone.  He  may  be  dead  physically,  but  he  will  speak,  and 
the  people  living  then  will  appreciate  the  labour  and  the 
sacrifices  of  Dr.  Griffiths  more  then  than  they  do  now. 

He  not  only  has  Immortalized  himself  in  the  sacrifices 
and  the  labours  he  have  performed,  but  he  has  also  kept 
alive  the  historv  of  the  Welsh  Baptist  ministry  in  north- 
eastern Pennsylvania,  and  as  long  as  that  history  will  live, 
the  history  also  of  those  ministers  will  live.  That  credit 
is  due  to  Dr.  Griffiths. 

His  connection  with  the  Ministerial  Association  of  Wy- 
oming Valley  Baptist  Ministers'  Union  has  always  been  a 
prominent  one.     He  was  the  first  Chairman  in   the  Union. 


REMINISCENCES AMERICA.  I33 

Dr.  McGee  was  the  first  President,  but  Dr.  Griffiths  was  the 
first  Chai/man,  and  Dr.  Griffiths  also — if  my  memory  serves 
me  right — was  the  Chairman  of  the  first  committee  that 
drew  up  the  Bye-laws  of  the  Association.  It  is  no  wonder 
that  he  has  been  in  the  alphabetical  line  or  first  line  of 
these  movements. 

He  was  born  on  New  Year's  Day,  and  he  has  tried  to  be 
in  the  front  ever  since,  and  the  first  in  all  the  toils  and 
labours.  He  has  produced  many  a  valuable  paper  in  the 
Ministerial  Union,  highly  appreciated,  highly  educative. 

Brother  Griffiths  has  been  in  this  country  and  has  left  a 
great  deal  in  the  Old  Country,  and  if  he  will  die  in  the 
Old  Country  his  heart  from  this  time  on  will  be  in 
America.  He  cannot  forget  America  ;  he  cannot  forget 
Edwardsville ;  he  caimot  forget  the  mmisterial  union  ; 
he  cannot  forget  the  churches  and  districts  that  he  has  lived 
in  during  the  years  that  he  has  been  here.  He  has  lived 
more  in  America  than  in  Wales,  and  if  he  does  go  back  to 
Wales  he  will  be  a  sick  man.  We  hear  of  boys  leaving 
home  and  becoming  homesick.  After  living  in  this  coun- 
try almost  twice  as  long  it  is  natural  for  one  to  think  that 
he  will  feel  sick  for  America  after  he  returns,  and  I  am  not 
going  to  bid  him  farewell.  I  am  not  going  to  bid  him 
good-bye.  I  am  just  going  to  bid  him  good-night.  I  ex- 
pect to  see  him  again,  not  where  Brother  Newman  expects 
to  meet  him  and  bid  him  good  morning,  but  a  good  morning 
here  as  well.. 

Brother  Griffith's  work  is  not  done,  and  I  believe  it  will 
not  be  completed  until  the  twelfth  hour  has  reached  the 
end.  May  God  spare  his  life  and  give  him  many  years  of 
service  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past.  He  has  ever  been  a 
hard  worker,  a  hard  toiler  and  plodder.  May  God  protect 
him  in  Wales,  and  give  him  health  and  strength  and  many 
years  of  service  in  Wales,  as  well  as  here  also. 

I  think  America  is  entitled  to  bury  Dr.  Griffiths,  and  I 
think  it  will  have  the  honour.  I  hope  so.  May  God  spare 
the  day  that  we  do  that,  and  grant  that  we  may  not  hear  of 
his  death  across  the  waters. 

Wales  is  too  small  for  him.  An  Irishman  said  he  was 
afraid  to  go  out  in  Wales  because  it  was  too  narrow    and 

E 


134  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

he  was  always  afraid  of  falling  off.  He  would  rather  live  in 
America  because  it  was  broad  enough  for  him  to  go  out 
after  night.  Wales  is  too  narrow  and  too  small  for  Dr. 
Griffiths.  It  is  only  the  broad  immense  country  of  the 
United  States  that  is  fit  for  this  toil  and  service  and  the 
latter  end  of  his  days.  May  God  bless  us  with  the  hope 
that  that  may  be  realized.  May  God  be  with  him  and  bless 
him  abundantly,  and  also  his  companion  in  life." 

Gwent  Glee  Society — "  Harlech." 

Dr.  T.  C.  Edwards : 

"  There  are  a  few  friends  present  who  remember  the  days 
when  Dr.  Griffiths  was  a  boy — that  is  a  young  boy.  Mr. 
Owens  of  Pittston,  it  seems,  is  one,  and  Dr.  Griffiths  is  re- 
membered by  a  few  others  who  are  present." 

Mr.  Owens: 

"  I  have  great  pleasure  in  coming  here  to-night  to  say  a 
word  about  my  friend.  As  an  instance  of  the  coincidences 
in  life,  I  just  received  a  letter  to-day  from  Wales  from  a 
cousin  of  mine,  asking  me  if  I  had  met  a  certain  relative  of 
ours  who  had  emigrated  to  this  country  fifty-five  years  ago. 
As  long,  or  nearly  as  long  as  I  can  remember,  I  remember 
Dr.  Griffiths.  I  remember  him  in  school.  You  people  have 
a  great  deal  better  schools  than  we  had.  He  and  1  had  to 
go  to  school  to  an  old  engine  house.  The  engine  had  been 
taken  out  but  the  roof  remained.  That  was  the  kind  of 
school  house  to  which  we  had  the  opportunity  of  going, 
and  that  was  not  very  nice,  but  perhaps  the  most  severe 
thing  that  was  in  it  was  the  teacher.  Sometimes  we  had 
to  go  up  before  the  desk  and  he  would  say,  '  Hold  out  your 
hand,'  and  of  course  if  you  pulled  it  back  you  got  two  slaps 
for  every  time  you  pulled  it  back.  Referring  to  his  indus- 
try since  he  has  been  in  the  ministry  I  am  not  surprised.  I 
believe  he  went  to  the  mines  a  little  ahead  of  me.  I  am 
not  sure  whether  I  was  three  months  over  nine  years  of  age, 
or  three  months  under  that  when  I  went  to  the  mines,  but 
I  think  he  was  a  little  ahead  of  me. 

I  remember  him  well  when  I  was  a  boy  twelve  or  thirteen 
years  of  age.  We  were  getting  coal  down  from  the  cham- 
bers.    We  had  to  use  shovels  and  throw  it  in  a  heap,  and 


REMINISCENCES— AMERICA.  I35 

then  go  to  that  heap  and  throw  it  further,  and  his  hands 
then  were  hard.  I  have  sometimes  pressed  his  hand  to  see 
if  they  are  so  now,  but  what  I  am  getting  at  is  that  he  was 
a  hard  worker  in  the  mines.  In  winter  time  we  never  saw 
daylight,  except  on  Sunday,  so  you  see  that  the  nine  hours 
that  the  boys  are  working  now  is  very  different  from  the 
thirteen  or  fourteen  hours  which  we  had  to  work.  I  have 
some  faint  recollections  of  that  time.  I  remember  Dr. 
Griffith's  grandmother  very  well  at  that  time.  I  lost  track 
of  him  after  I  grew  up  to  about  sixteen  or  seventeen  years 
of  age. 

I  heard  of  a  few  incidents  concerning  him,  but  I  never 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  him  again  until  a  few  years 
ago,  and  when  he  was  introduced  to  me  as  Dr.  Griffiths  I 
certainly  had  no  idea  of  who  he  was.  But  I  was  sure  I 
knew  the  person,  but  who  he  was  I  had  no  idea.  At  last 
he  came  alongside  of  me  and  told  me  who  he  was.  I  was 
not  surprised  in  one  sense,  because  it  was  what  I  had  ex- 
pected of  him,  and  indeed,  as  Dr.  Edwards  mentioned, 
quality  came  from  that  little  place  Kenfig  Hill.  He  surely 
is  right  in  that,  and  I  do  not  know  as  you  can  find  another 
little  place  that  produced  a  higher  percentage  of  men  of 
more  quality. 

Mr.  Williams  called  him  a  Baptist  of  the  Baptists.  You 
know  there  is  nothing  surprising  to  me  in  that,  because  he 
was  raised  under  such  preachers  as  Roberts  P^awr  and  John 
Jones  (Mathetes).  I  was  up  to  sixteen  or  seventeen  years 
of  age  before  I  knew  whether  I  was  a  Baptist,  a  Methodist, 
or  an  Independent.  Which  was  the  best  preacher  I  do  not 
know  as  I  have  but  very  little  recollection  of  their 
preaching. 

I  wish  Dr.  Griffiths  and  Mrs.  Griffiths  every  success,  and 
they  can  never  be  greater  than  my  wishes  are  for  them." 

Rev.  D.  Rhoslyn  Davies  : 

"  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : — I  would  rather  have  many 
things  to  happen  than  to  see  Dr.  Griffiths  leave  this  coun- 
try for  good,  and  go  back  to  his  native  land  to  remain  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  I  am  very  sorry  to  learn  of  this,  and 
I  hope,  as  has  been  intimated  already,  that  this  will   not 


136  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

be,    and   that    Dr.  Griffiths   and    Mrs.  Griffiths   will  return 
again  and  remain  among  us,  and  live  and  die  among  us. 

I  go  back  a  little  time  in  my  mind  when  I  think  of  Dr. 
Griffiths'  departure.  I  cannot  of  course  go  as  far  back  as 
Mr.  Owens.  I  do  not  remember  much — tf)o  young  to  re- 
member much — of  the  time  fifty-five  years  ago,  but  maybe 
I  could  go  back  twenty  years — well  in  1868 — forty  years 
ago,  when  we  met  together  at  Lewisburg. 

We  spent  1868  together  there  at  Lewisburg  studying 
Greek  and  Latin,  which  was  very  congenial  work  we 
thought,  but  we  drank  quite  a  lot  of  w^ater  at  that 
time  because  the  work  was  so  dry,  but  we  worked  hard 
and  diligently  during  that  year,  and  ever  since  we  have 
been  very  good  friends,  and  I  have  found  Dr.  Griffiths  a 
thorough  friend,  which  is  more  than  can  be  said  of  every- 
body that  one  meets.  But  Dr.  Grilfiths  is  a  friend — is  a 
thoroughly  good  man.  I  found  him  perfectly  reliable  and 
trustworthy. 

I  am  not  saying  these  things  in  order  to  please  Dr.  Grif- 
fiths to-night,  as  it  is  our  duty  to  do,  but  I  say  just  what  I 
mean,  just  what  I  have  been  thinking  of  him  during  the 
forty  years  we  have  been  acquainted  with  one  anotlier. 
Trustworthy  and  truthful.  You  can  believe  what  he  says. 
He  means  it,  and  that  is  much  indeed.  We  meet  a  great 
many  people,  but  do  not  know  what  percentage  we  have  to 
take  off  what  they  say,  or  how  much  really  we  can  believe,^ 
but  you  can  rely  on  Dr.  Griffiths'  word.  He  is  also  truthful 
and  earnest,  sincere  and  honest  in  every  way.  These  are 
Dr.  John  T.  Griffiths'  characteristics.     A  faithful  student. 

If  he  had  remained  in  college  he  would  have  graduated 
an  excellent  scholar.  He  has  a  very  good,  clear  mind. 
Most  excellent  memory.  Could  commit  to  memory  any- 
thing, and  that  readily,  and  retain  it  as  long  as  he  wanted 
it,  and  in  these  respects  I  consider  if  he  had  remained  here 
and  gone  through  the  full  course,  he  would  have  graduated 
one  of  the  best  scholars  that  ever  went  through  Bucknell 
University.     I  am  very  sorry  to  part  with  our  brother. 

He  has  done  a  great  deal  of  good  in  the  country.  During 
his  ministry  of  nearly  forty  years  wherever  he  went  he  built 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I37 

up,  never  tore  down,  but  always  built  up  as  he  has  done 
here.  He  has  done  a  great  good  work  here.  He  has  built 
the  church  in  every  way,  and  leaves  the  church  in  a  much 
better  condition  than  it  was  when  he  appeared  here.  This  is 
true  of  all  his  work  during  his  whole  lifetime,  from  the  time 
he  began  at  Newburg  in  i86g  until  now. 

He  is  one  of  the  best  known  Baptist  preachers  in  Pennsyl- 
vania to-day,  and  is  favourably  known.  He  is  looked  upon 
as  one  of  the  best  men  in  the  denomination  to-day.  May  the 
Lord  bless  vou  all,  especially  Dr.  Griffiths  and  Mrs. 
Griffiths." 

Song  by  Mr.  D.  T.  Johns  :   "  Mae  nghalon  yn  Nghymru." 

("My  heart  is  in  Wales.") 

Rev.  Lloyd  Morris  (Cong.) : 

"  I  am  not  going  to  occupy  a  great  deal  of  your  time. 
There  are  a  great  many  gentlemen  here  on  the  platform 
who  have  had  a  great  many  more  opportunities  of  knowing 
Dr.  Griffiths  than  I  have,  and  1  believe  ought  to  take  part 
in  this  meeting.  I  feel  that  it  is  a  privilege  to  be  permit- 
ted to  say  a  word  in  this  valedictory  meeting.  I  am  expected 
to  say  what  the  neighbours  think.  Now,  I  have  never  had 
the  gift  of  thought-reading,  and  if  the  good  people  of 
Edwardsville,  and  round  about  here  were  not  so  absolutely 
ready  in  giving  expression  to  what  they  think,  it  would  be 
very  difficult  for  me  to  say  anything  of  interest  here  to-night. 

You  know  what  they  think  of  America,  for  instance,  from 
what  we  have  heard  already.  I  remember  hearing  a  Scotch- 
man say  that  a  famous  prayer  of  the  Scotch  was  :  '  Lord, 
give  us  a  better  conceit  of  ourselves.'  I  think  Dr.  Griffiths 
will  find  some  very  interesting  things  that  will  strike  very 
deeply  into  his  heart  when  he  comes  back,  and  of  course  we 
know  the  age  of  miracles  is  not  past.  You  know  he  brought 
a  good  wife  from  Wales.  Perhaps  the  good  wife  will  bring 
him  back  again  to  America. 

I  should  just  like  to  say  as  a  minister  here  who  has  had  the 
pleasure  of  knowing  Dr.  Griffiths  now  for  twelve  months 
that  I  should  like  him  to  know  what  is  thought  about  him 
by  the  people  of  this  town.      I  should  like  to  say  for  myself 


138  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

that  I  count  him  an  exceedingly  excellent  man.  He  is  al- 
ways the  same.  I  have  no  doubt  that  Mrs.  Griffiths  could 
confirm  all  of  that. 

Reference  has  been  made  to-night  to  the  fact  that  he  is 
a  Baptist,  and  a  strict  Baptist,  but  he  is  a  great  deal  more 
than  a  Baptist  after  all.  He  is  a  great  broad  man,  catholic  in 
spirit.  In  fact,  one  member  of  this  church  told  me  he  thought 
he  was  the  most  liberal  minister  they  ever  had.  I  believe  he 
is  great  enough  to  see  good  in  other  denominations,  and  he 
could  say,  'All  who  preach  truth  to  me  commissioned  are  ; 
all  who  love  Christ  are  in  my  church  embraced.' 

Now  1  have  always  admired  the  catholicity  of  spirit  that 
Dr.  Griffiths  embodies,  and  I  should  like  to  tell  Dr.  Griffiths 
that  he  is  held  in  very  high  esteem  in  all  our  Churches  here. 
He  is  praised  everywhere.  I  have  heard  people  belonging  to 
my  own  church,  and  people  who  are  not  connected  with  any 
of  the  churches,  speak  in  the  highest  terms  of  praise  of  Dr. 
Griffiths.  I  have  heard  of  his  success  among  the  young 
people  here,  and  I  think  that  is  a  tribute  that  any  minister 
might  well  be  proud  of.  I  have  listened,  and  I  have  not 
heard  a  single  word  spoken  against  Dr.  Griffiths,  and  I  do 
not  believe  there  are  things  spoken  against  him. 

I  should  like  to  say  something  about  his  good  services  to 
the  Gvvent  Glee  Society,  and  their  presence  here  is  proof  of 
their  admiration.  Nothing  has  happened  in  the  history  of 
the  Gwent  Society  but  that  Dr.  Griffiths  has  manifested 
his  interest,  and  I  am  sure  to-night  that  the  members  of 
that  Society  feel  that  in  his  going  away  from  here  they 
suffer  a  personal  loss.  I  know  this  to-night,  that  in  their 
hearts  they  feel  they  are  losing  one  who  has  shown  a  great 
deal  of  interest  and  has  been  willing  always  to  help  for- 
ward any  good  work  in  which  they  might  be  engaged.  I 
am  sure  that  all  here  wish  you  and  Mrs.  Griffiths  God  speed 
in  the  new  country,  and  hope  that  you  may  live  long  and 
have  a  great  deal  of  blessing." 

Rev.  C.  M.  Conway  : 

"  Mr.  Chairman,  Brothers  and  Sisters: — It  is  a  pleasure 
to  me  to  be  here  this  evening  to  participate  in  this  farewell 
service  to  Dr.  Griffiths.  I  come  here  with  mingled  feelings 
of  pleasure  and  sadness.     As  I  say,  it  is  a  pleasure  to  be 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I39 

here  to  participate  in  this  and  speak  a  few  words  in  regard 
to  the  real  worth  and  value  and  solidity  of  the  character 
of  our  brother,  but  it  is  with  sadness  that  I  come  to  say 
good-bye.  I  had  learned  to  know  Dr.  Griffiths  before  it 
was  my  pleasure,  to  meet  him  in  this  valley.  He  had 
served  his  time  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state  before 
I  became  pastor  there,  and  after  he  had  taken  his  departure 
and  had  returned  to.  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  I  became 
the  pastor  of  the  church  he  had  served  years  before,  and 
in  my  pastoral  visitations  in  my  calls  at  the  homes  of  the 
people,  and  especially  of  the  older  members  of  the  church, 
they  would  frequently  refer  to  Dr.  Griffiths  and  would 
speak  of  him  tenderly  and  affectionately,  and  of  his  faith- 
ful labors  and  of  his  splendid  sennons.  Dr.  Griffiths  was 
pastor  of  the  Greenville  Church  for  a  number  of  years  and 
before  he  became  its  pastor  its  doors  were  closed.  They  had 
done  without  preaching  for  some  time,  and  the  deacons  of 
that  church  were  so  full  of  religion  that  they  allowed  the 
doors  to  be  closed  and  attended  the  other  churches,  but  Dr. 
Griffiths  was  so  full  of  anotlier  kind  of  religion  that  he  was 
not  willing  to  allow  the  doors  to  remain  closed,  and  he 
went  from  a  neigboring  church  to  Greenville  and  they  told 
me  there  that  he  trampled  down  the  weeds  that  had  grown 
up  before  the  door  and  opened  the  doors  of  the  cliurch  and 
made  a  personal  canvass  of  the  brethren  of  the  church,  go- 
ing from  house  to  house  pleading  with  the  members  of  the 
church  to  turn  out  and  re-open  the  doors  of  the  church  and 
hold  their  regular  service,  and  he  traveled  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  miles  sharing  his  time  with  them  until  the  doors 
of  the  church  were  re-opened  and  became  the  pastor,  and 
from  that  time  to  this  the  doors  of  that  church  have  re- 
mained open,  and,  more  than  that,  during  the  time  of  his 
pastorate  there,  and  the  years  spent  in  that  part  of  the  state, 
he  planned,  I  think,  five  or  six  other  churches,  and  built 
perhaps — or  was  the  means  of  having  built— as  many  houses 
of  worship.     And  so  I  had  heard  of  the  Doctor. 

I  became  familiar  with  his  methods,  and  his  style,  and 
his  manner  and  spirit  from  hearing  the  people  speak  of 
him,  and  I  want  to  say  here  that  in  the  western  part  of  the 
state  where  the  Doctor  spent  so  many  years  in  faithful  ser- 
vice, that  his  reputation  and  his  standing  and  his  work  as 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel  is  just  as  good  as  it  is  in  Edwards- 
ville.     They  know  a  good  thing  out  there  when  they  see  it 


140  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

just  the  same  as  you  do  here,  and  they  recognized  it  in  Dr. 
Griffiths.  I  remember  now  a  little  incident  that  Mrs. — - — , 
I  might  as  well  tell  you  her  name,  for  none  of  you  here 
know  her — a  Mrs.  Phillips  (you  know  the  Phillips  and  the 
Smiths  are  like  sin — everywhere)  referred  to  an  incident 
that  occurred  when  they  were  holding  revival  meetings. 
She  advised  the  Doctor  to  call  on  some  of  the  sisters  from 
among  the  membership  of  the  church  to  lead  in  prayer,  and 
he  received  the  suggestion  very  kindly,  and  the  next  evening 
in  the  course  of  the  meeting  he  said,  '  Now,  Sister  Phillips 
wants  to  pray,  and  she  will  lead  us  in  prayer.'  She  said 
from  that  time  forth  she  did  not  try  to  dictate  to  the  Doc- 
tor. She  received  it  very  kindly  and  remembered  it 
pleasantly.  The  people  have  the  most  tender  recollections 
of  the  Doctor  and  of  his  service  there.  Now  we  are  loth  to 
part  with  him.  We  feel  that  we  are  losing  something  in 
the  departure  of  Dr.  Griffiths  from  this  country,  from  this 
state  and  from  our  associations.  We  will  miss  his  genial 
companionship.  We  shall,  miss'  his  wise  and  safe  counsel, 
but  our  loss  is  Wales'  gain,  and  so  we  rejoice  in  that,  and 
hope  that  by  the  goodness  of  God  he  may  come  back  to  us 
some  day." 

Dr.  T.  C.  Edwards  : 

"All  of  this  body  (you  know  the  Association  resolved  to 
be  here  in  a  body)fall  this  body  are  the  '  cloud  of  witnesses ' 
that  unite  in  one  wish  of  bon  voyage  to  the  Doctor  and 
his  family. 

Some  of  the  people  have  to  leave  before  many  minutes, 
so  I  shall  pass  by  this  number  at  present,  and  will  not  call 
upon  all  of  these  gentlemen  by  name.  But  after  we  proceed 
with  a  number  or  two  I  shall  give  an  opportunity  if  there 
is  a  word  to  be  spoken  by  anyone. 

A  secret  revealed.  I  know  some  of  these  men  are  anxious 
to  know  what  this  secret  is.  Of  course  it  does  not  trouble 
the  ladies  at  all.  What  secret  is  that  man  to  reveal  ?  And 
they  are  more  surprised  that  it  is  for  me  to  reveal  because 
they  know  I  do  not  keep  any  secrets  at  all.  I  have  tried 
since  I  have  been  here  to  discover  what  the  committee 
meant.  Mr.  J.  P.  Thomas  on  behalf  of  the  Gwent  Society 
is  going  to  say  something  and  do  something. 


REMINSISCENCE — AMERICA.  14! 

Mr.  Thomas : 

"  Mr.  Chairman,   Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : — If  you  would 

all  go  out  of  this  building  and  let  me  alone  with  Dr.  Grif- 
fiths I  could  tell  him  a  lot.  When  we  heard  that  Dr.  Griffiths 
was  going  to  leave  our  town,  the  Gwents  felt  as  though 
they  were  losing  a  good  friend.  We  felt  as  though  we 
ought  to  do  something  to  show  him  we  appreciated  his 
work  while  he  was  here  (handing  him  a  gold-headed  cane), 
and  when  you  are  over  in  the  land  of  song  you  won't  for- 
get the  Gwents  of  Edwardsville.    We  wish  you  God  speed. "^ 

Dr.  Griffiths : 

Mr.  Chairman  and  kind  friends  : — I  am  not  in  a  proper 
condition  to  make  an  address,  but  I  wish  to  express  my 
heartiest  thanks  to  all  my  friends  for  the  kindness  shown 
me  and  my  dear  wife,  and  especially  the  Gwents  for  this 
gold-headed  cane  which  they  have  given  me  as  an  expres- 
sion of  their  love  to  me.  References  have  been  made  by 
different  friends  to  my  early  life  and  to  my  mijiisterial  life 
in  its  different  aspects.  I  may  say  that  1  have  always  con- 
sidered myself  simply  as  a  pioneer  worker,  and  as  I  look 
back  on  all  the  fields  I  have  laboured  in,  the  hand  of  God 
seems  very  plain  to  me.  In  leaving  America  I  know  that 
I  am  leaving  hosts  of  friends.  I  cannot  wish  anything 
better  for  them  all  than  that  God  may  be  with  them. 

Again  I  say,  accept  my  sincere  thanks. 

Rev.  L.  Ton  Evans  : 

"I  should  like  to  say  just  one  word,  that  I  have  always 
admired  Dr.  Griffiths  and  his  methods  in  regard  to  his  work. 
I  am  exceedingly  glad  that  he  is  not  resigning  altogether 
from  the  ministry.  His  conception  of  the  ministry  is  that 
it  is  the  highest  and  noblest  vocation  any  man  can  enter. 
He  intends  to  preach  every  Sunday,  and  I  am  sure  there  ara 
many  churches  throughout  Wales  which  will  be  only  too 
glad  to  have  him.  I  am  glad  that  he  is  a  pioneer,  that  he 
has  never  been  waiting  for  an  empty  church  or  for  another 
man's  place.  He  believes  in  opening  the  doors  of  places 
already  closed  and  in  starting  new  churches. 

Thank  God  for  such  men,  and  we  want  more  of  them  in 
America.     I  am  about  to  take  ()ut  my  papers  as  an   Ameri- 


142  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

can  citizen.  I  am  glad  to  say,  as  has  already  been  said, 
that  Wales  is  much  better  than  it  used  to  be,  and  he  will 
iind  it  so.  He  will  find  local  option  there  which  the  people 
of  this  county  directly  failed  in  their  duty  towards  God 
when  they  failed  to  vote  for  it.  There  will  be  no  need  for 
Dr.  Griffiths  to  fight  along  temperance  lines  there.  Public 
houses  are  closed  at  ten  o'clock,  which  we  do  not  have  here. 
He  will  find  many  other  things.  He  will  find,  as  he  has 
already  found,  that  things  are  higher  from  a  moral  and 
spiritual  standpoint  than  they  have  ever  been,  but  still,  at 
the  same  time,  it  is  my  good  fortune  to  remain  on  this  side, 
but  possibly  another  thirty  or  forty  years,  when  I  feel  lam 
getting  old,  I  may  become  unsettled.  I  spent  twelve  months 
more  there  than  he  did,  and  must  have  travelled  more,  but 
I  did  not  find  exactly  what  he  found.  Of  course  he  went 
there  with  an  eye  to  business,  and  it  may  be  I  shall  have  to 
go  across  on  some  other  business,  and  perhaps  I  shall  be  as 
fortunate  as  the  Doctor.  I  wish  them  God  speed,  and  it  is 
very  likely  that  some  day  when  I  go  over  to  see  my  little 
daughter  I  shall  call  upon  them  for  a  Welsh  cup  of  tea. 
God  bless  you  until  we  meet  again." 

Gwent  Glee  Society — "The  Pilgrims." 

Benediction— Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith,  D.D. 

Saturday  evening,  April  25th,  a  special  meeting  was  held 
by  the  ladies  of  the  church  in  honour  to  Mrs.  J.  T.  Griffith, 
at  which  several  valuable  presents  were  presented  to  her  in 
behalf  of  the  friends  by  Miss  Annie  Thomas  as  expressions 
of  their  good  wishes  to  her  on  her  departure  for  Wales. 

She  was  also  kindly  remembered  by  her  Sunday  School 
Class,  and  many  other  friends  outside  the  above  farewell 
meeting,  for  which  she  extends  her  sincere  thanks. 


THE  FAREWELL  HYMN. 

Go  in  peace,  beloved  brother, 
Safely  to  the  native  land; 

Fare  you  well,  continue  ever 
In  the  heavenlv  Father's  hand. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I45, 

From  our  friends  we  may  be  parted, 

And  between  us  oceans  roll; 
Having  Christ  by  faith  accepted, 

We  are  one  in  heart  and  soul. 

Till  we  meet  may  God  be  with  you. 

To  direct  you  in  your  way  : 
With  his  banner  floating  o'er  you. 

Keep  and  bless  you  every  day  : 
Give  you  strength  to  tell  the  story 

Of  Salvation,  full  and  free  ; 
And  we'll  render  all  the  glorv 

To  the  Blessed  Trinity. 

Cynonfardd. 


Monday   morning,   April   27th,    1908,  they  left  Edwards- 
dale  for  Wales. 

(Stenographed  by  Miss  Stair  of  Wilks-barre.) 


Crozer  Theological  Seminary,  Chester,  Pa. 

April  21,   igo8. 
Rev.  Dr.  Griffith, 

My  Dear  Brother: — You  write  me  that  you  are  going 
back  to  Wales,  intending  to  make  the  country  of  your  birth 
the  country  of  your  last  days.  F^or  your  sake  I  am  glad  of 
your  determination,  for  our  sake  I  am  sorry. 

You  were  my  first  Welsh  student.  You  proved  a  worthy 
representative  of  your  nation — versed  in  the  Bible,  accept- 
ing heartily  its  teachings,  imbibing  its  spirit,  the  Bible 
moulding  your  whole  ministry.  Naturally  the  tie  between 
teacher  and  pupil  became  on  my  part,  a  relation  of  warm 
and  permanent  friendship. 


144  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

May  the  Lord's    blessing   abundantly    rest    upon    you   in 
your  new  relation  and  work. 

Yours  in  the  best  of  bonds, 

Henry  J.   Weston-'- 

(President  of  Crozer  Theological  Seminary  since  1868.) 


Crozer  Theological  Seminary,  Chester,  Pa. 

Department  of  Biblical  Theology. 

February  17,  igo6. 

To  the  Baptist  Brethren  of  Wales  : 

With  unwonted  joy  I  commend  to  your  consideration  the 
Reverend  John  T.  Griffiths,  D.D.,  of  Edwardsdale,  Pa.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  first  graduating  class  of  Crozer  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  and  by  his  Christian  character,  devotion 
in  the  ministry,  enthusiastic  loyalty  to  the  Seminary,  he  is 
an  alumnus  who  does  the  institution  honor.  He  has  made 
the  Welsh  name  honorable  in  the  United  States.  His  own 
worth,  his  success  in  the  ministry,  his  literary  w'ork,  and  his 
preaching  ability  have  been  an  honor  to  the  Welsh  people. 
His  valuable  monographs,  "  Morgan  John  Rhees,"  "Baptist 
Missionaries  in  their  Relationship  to  the  Translation  of  the 
Scriptures.  "The  Early  Baptists  of  Wilkes-Barre  and  Scran- 
ton,"  "  Brief  Biographical  Sketches  of  Welsh  Baptist  Minis- 
ters in  Pennsylvania,"  etc.,  etc.,  and  translations  of  notable 
sermons  of  Welsh  preachers,  show  how  he  has  added  to  our 
store  of  historical  information;  and  how  pardonably  loyal 
he  is  to  the  Welsh  who  have  done  incalculable  service  to 
the  Baptist  cause  in  America.  With  joy  I  reckon  him  a 
personal  friend,  and  with  gladness  I  commend  him  to  a 
people  whom  I  love  as  kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh. 

Fraternally, 

Milton   G.    Evans. 

(Prof.  M.  G.  Milton,  D.D.,  since  1890.) 

*  Rev.  H.  G.  Weston,  D.D.,  Ll.D.  died  P'eb.  6,  1909,  having- been 
the  honoured  President  of  Crozer  Seminary  from  the  time  it  was  opened 
in  1868  until  his  death,  but  I  am  glad  to  feel  that  his  mantle  fell  on  so 
worthy  a  successor  in  the  person  of  Rev.  Milton  G.  Evans,  D.  D.,  the 
present  President. — J.T.  G. 


REMINISCENCES AMERICA.  I45 

After  having  read   the   article   of   Dr.    Owen  James,  Dr. 
Weston  sent  me  the  following  letter  :  — 


Chester,  Pa.,  April  23,  1902. 


Dear  Brother  Griffith 


I  have  read  with  a  great  deal  of  interest  the  article  by 
Owen  James.  It  is  a  grand  record,  one  of  which  Crozer 
Seminary  may  justly  be  proud.  1  feel  a  great  deal  more  inter- 
est in  such  work  as  you  have  done,  in  such  places  as  you  have 
chosen,  tlian  I  do  in  the  great  successes  in  high  places  which 
have  been  achieved  by  others.  I  hope  that  there  is  much 
work  before  you  yet,  and  that  you  may  accomplish  all  that 
is  in  your  heart. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Henry  J.  Weston. •■■ 

*  The  firticle  referred  to  above   was   published  in    the    Baptist  Com- 
monwealth for  1902,  entitled  "Crozer  Seminary's  First  Ordained."  J.T.G 


The  following  letter  is  from  the  well  known  and  the 
greatly  beloved,  the  late  Rev.  Howard  Hosgood,  D.D.,  the 
first  Prof,  of  Hebrew  at  Crozer  Seminary,  but  since  1874 
was  Prof,  at  Rochester  Seminary,  Rochester,  New  York. 

Having  occasion  to  write  to  him  some  years  ago,  I  re- 
ceived from  him  a  note  among  others,  which  I  desire  to  in- 
sert here,  as  it  shows  the  sweetness  of  his  spirit  : 

Rochester,  N.Y.,  Sept.  21,  1902. 

My  dear  Brother  :  I  am  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  your 
good  letter  which  I  was  very  glad  to  receive,  and  to  learn 
of  your  life  and  of  your  present  field  of  work.  I  well  re- 
member the  days  of  long  ago,  and  the  pleasure  I  had  in 
striving  to  tell  others  what  little  I  knew  about  Christ  and 
His  word,  which  is  able  to  save  the  soul.  God  has  dealt 
most  tenderly  with  us  both,  and  led  us  in  paths  we  knew 
not,  till  now  the  evening  shadows  are  not  far  off,  and  be- 
yond are  the  morning  lights,  and  the  many  mansions,  and 
the  fountains  of  the  water  of  life,  and  best  of  all  the  Lamb 
in  the  midst  of  the   throne.     May   the   grace   that  has  ever 


146  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

abounded  to  you  make  your  coming  years  to  overflow  with 
joy  and  peace  in  believing  and  give  you  a  harvest  every 
month  in  the  year. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Howard  Osgood. 

Dr.  Osgood  died  at  his  home  at  Rochester,  New  York,  in 
the  fall  of  1911,  aged  eighty  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
leading  Hebrew  Scholars  of  America,  and  perfectly  loyal 
to  the  faith. — j.t.g. 


Waterville,  Me.,  April  13,  '06. 

My  dear  Dr.  Griffith  : 

It  gave  to  me  and  Mrs.  Pepper  also  a  very  special  joy  to 
receive  from  you  the  valuable  documents,  the  products  of  your 
bram,  and  the  evidence  of  your  vigorous,  fruitful  and  valuable 
labors.  There  is  in  them  such  evidence  of  life,  enterprise, 
heroic  determination  still  to  dare,  do,  and  achieve,  that  it 
hardly  seems,  as  though  you  were  passing  beyond  young 
manhood. 

I  have  read  with  interest  all  that  was  said  by  you  only 
from  the  enclosures.  I  look  into  your  strong  manly  face  in 
the  portrait.  I  seem  again  to  be  with  you  as  of  old.  I 
would  love  to  meet  you  again  in  the  flesh.  Perhaps  we 
may  meet.  Who  knows  whether  you  may  not  some  day 
come  to  Waterville  ?  It  is  hardly  likely  that  I  shall  again 
be  in  your  neighbourhood,  and  yet  I  may.  I  am  coming  up 
from  a  nearly  fatal  attack  of  pi  euro-pneumonic,  which  on 
Feb.  13  suddenly  tumbled  me  over  the  precipice  down  to 
the  gates  of  death— gaining  constantly  and  hoping  to  be 
quite  well  in  due  time. 

Mrs.  Pepper  joins  me  in  thanks  for  your  kind  remem- 
brance, and  in  wishing  you  all  best  things. 

Cordially  yours, 

Geo.  D.  B.  Pepper. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I47 

P.S. — Dr.  Pepper  was  the  Prof,  of  Systematic  Theology 
at  Crozer  Seminary  when  I  was  there.  After  he  left  Crozer 
he  was  for  years  the  greatly  honoured  President  of  "  Colby 
University,"  Waterville,  Maine,  where  he  died  on  January 
30,  1913,  aged  seventy  nine.  He  was  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  a  graduate  of  Amherst  College  and  Newton 
Seminary.     He  was  a  truly  great  man. — j.t.g. 


New  Tabernacle  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  John  T.  Griffith,  D.D.,  is  now  widely  known  and 
much  valued  among  the  Baptists  of  Pennsylvania.  He  is  a 
strong,  well-poised,  studious  minister,  alive  to  all  great  de- 
nominational questions,  a  lover  of  "  sound  doctrine,"  and 
much  interested  in  research  along  the  lines  of  Welsh  and 
Baptist  history.  Dr.  Griffith  has  been  more  than  commonly 
SHCcessful  in  establishing  and  fostering  churches,  and  in 
every  place  where  he  has  labored  he  has  left  behind  him  a 
good  name,  with  the  fragrance  of  precious  ointment. 

Geo.  E.  Rees. 
Oct.  3,  1905.  (Rev.  G.  E.  Rees,  D.D.) 


-^ 


Special  Papers. 


THE  RELATIONSHIP    OF    THE  EARLY    BAPTISTS 

OF  PENNSYLVANIA  TO  THE  WELSH  BAPTISTS 

OF  WALES. 


Note. — The  following  paper  was  read  at  the  first  re-union 
of  the  first  students  of  Crozer  Theological  Seminary,  Pa., 
held  Wednesday,  June  13th,  1888,  at  the  Commencement 
Hall,  &c.     See  chapter  on  Crozer  Seminary. — j.t.g. 


The  question  of  the  origin  of  the  Baptists  in  general 
seems  to  be  very  difficult  for  historians  to  answer.  Some 
years  ago  I  met  a  book  agent  in  the  Post  Office  at  James- 
town, Pa.,  who  was  around  selling  an  historical  work  which 
he  was  very  anxious  to  sell.  He  said  that  it  gave  the  origin 
of  all  nations,  kingdoms,  and  denominations,  &c.  I  told 
him  that  I  was  more  interested  in  church  history  than  any- 
thing else,  and  I  asked  him  to  show  me  the  dates  and  places 
of  the  origin  of  different  denominations,  which  he  did  very 
readily;  but  when  I  asked  him  to  find  the  date  and  place  of  the 
origin  of  the  Baptists  he  could  not  do  it,  which  seemed  to 
be  a  mystery  to  him,  but  I  explained  to  him  by  saying  that 
no  honest  historian  could  fix  the  date  this  side  of  the  time 
of  Christ,  and  no  place  except  the  wilderness  of  Judea,  where 
the  first  Baptist  began  to  preach. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I49 

Mosheim  very  honestly  confessed  that  their  origin  was 
"far back  in  the  dark  ages  of  antiquity."  But  if  the  origin 
of  the  Baptists  in  general  is  difficult  to  settle,  the  origin  of 
the  Baptists  of  Pennsylvania  is  not  difficult  to  solve,  for  we 
all  know  that  "Wales  is  to  be  considered  as  the  parent  of  the 
Baptist  denomination  of  this  state."  In  order  that  we  may 
know  the  reason  why  the  founders  of  the  Baptists  of  Pennsyl- 
vania came  here  when  they  did,  we  must  know  something 
about  the  circumstances  of  those  times.  It  is  well  known  that 
after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.  to  the  throne  of  England 
that  all  the  Nonconformists  were  the  objects  of  the  bitterest 
persecution.  Previous  to  his  return  from  Breda  to  England 
he  had  "  issued  a  declaration  of  his  views  and  his  tolerant 
disposition."  It  was  full  of  promise,  and  for  the  time 
answered  the  end.  We  quote  a  part  of  this  memorable 
document : — "  We  do  declare  a  liberty  to  tender  con- 
sciences, and  that  no  man  shall  be  disquieted  or  called 
in  question  for  differences  of  opinion  in  matters  of  religion, 
which  do  not  disturb  the  peace  of  the  kingdom,  and  we 
shall  be  ready  to  consent  to  such  an  Act  of  Parliament  as 
upon  mature  deliberation  shall  be  offered  to  us  for  the  full 
granting  that  indulgence."  (See  "  Early  English  Baptists," 
by  Evans,  vol.  ii.,  p.  257.) 

That  seemed  like  a  sincere  promise.  Dr.  Price,  Aberdare, 
says  that  in  the  year  1663,  the  \\'elsh  Baptists  of  Wales 
held  their  Association  at  Brecon,  Breconshire,  Wales,  at 
which  sixteen  regular  Baptist  churches  were  represented. 
After  that  Association  the  Baptists  suffered  the  most  cruel 
persecutions  under  Charles  II.,  so  that  they  were  not  able 
to  hold  another  Association  for  28  years.  (The  Welsh  Bap- 
tists, by  Price,  Aberdarc.  See  "  Y  \Vawr,"vol.7.  pp.  326,  &c.) 

During  that  period  many  emigrated  from  England  and 
Wales,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  which  had  been  estab- 
lished by  God  through  William  Penn  mainly  "  on  the  broad 
platform  of  Religious  Liberty."  The  first  Baptist  Church 
in  Pennsylvania  is  said  to  have  been  established  at  Cold 
Spring  Bucks  County  between  Bristol  and  Newton  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Dungan,  who  with  se\'eral  others  of  the  same  faith 
had  come  from  Rhode  Island,  and  settled  at  the  above  place. 
This  occured  in  the  year  1684,  but  this  church  did  not  exist 
only  a  few  year*^,  hence  the  church  which  has  the  honour  of 
being  regarded  as  the  oldest  Baptist  Church  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  mother  of  many   other   Baptist   Churches  in 


150  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Philadelphia  and  vicinity,  is  the  Lower   Dublin  Church,  or 
as  it  was  formerly  called  the  Pennepek  Church. 

This  church  is  situated  in  what  was  formerly  the  town- 
ship of  Lower  Dublin,  now  the  twentv -third  ward  of  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  about  eleven  miles  north-westerly 
from  Independence  Hall.  Where  did  the  original  members 
of  this  church  come  from  ?  The  church  record  says  that 
five  of  them,  viz.,  John  Eatton,  George  and  Jane  Eatton, 
Samuel  Jones,  and  Sarah  Eatton  came  from  Radnorshire, 
South  Wales,  where  they  had  been  baptized  and  received 
into  the  Dolau  Baptist  Church.  Also  John  Baker,  who  had 
been  baptized  at  Kilkeany,  Ireland.  In  the  year  1687  one 
Samuel  \"aus  came  from  England,  and  claimed  to  be  a  Bap- 
tist, settled  at  the  same  place.  Rev.  David  Spencer,  D.D., 
in  his  'History  of  the  Early  Baptists  of  Philadelphia' 
says  that  "  it  was  shortly  after  learned  that  he  (Samuel 
Vaus)  had  never  been  baptized,  and  when  confronted  on 
the  subject  by  the  pastor,  he  acknowledged  his  imposition, 
and  ceased  to  be  one  of  the  church,"  (pp.  21-22). 

In  his  history  of  Dolau  Church  Joshua  Thomas  says — 
*'  Many  of  the  members  of  this  church,  with  their  relatives 
and  neighbours  emigrated  to  America  in  the  times  of  the 
persecutions,  and  some  perhaps  after  that."  Edwards  in  his 
materials  says — "About  the  year  1686  John  Eatton,  George 
Eatton,  and  Jane  his  wife.  Sarah  Eatton  and  Samuel  Jones 
(members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Llanddewi  and  Nant- 
mel,  Radnorshire,  over  which  Rev.  Henry  Rogers  was  chief 
pastor),  these  with  others  from  different  countries  arrived 
in  this  country,  and  settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Pennepek 
river." 

From  a  letter  sent  to  Joshua  Thomas  by  Dr.  S.  Jones  in 
1788  it  seems  tliat  John  and  George  Eatton  were  brothers, 
and  from  a  note  in  George  Eatton's  Bible  it  seems  that  he 
had  left  his  home  at  Llanddewi  x^ugust  ist,  1683,  and  that 
he  sailed  from  Milford  in  Sept.,  and  arrived  in  Philadelphia 
Nov.  3rd.  It  is  very  probable  that  John,  his  brother,  and 
others  were  with  him.  Mr.  Edwards  had  not  found  the 
exact  date  of  their  arrival  wlien  he  wrote  his  materials. 
These  five  from  Radnorshire,  with  seven  others  with  them, 
formed  the  first  Baptist  Church  of  Pennsylvania,  Jan.,  i( 


Its  first    pastor  was   Elias    Keach,  son   of  the   celebrated 
Benjamin  Keach,  of  London.     Elias   Keach   was  baptized 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  15I 

by  Rtv.  Thomas  Dungan  at  Cold  Spring.  (See  "Welsh  Bap- 
tist History,"  by  Joshua  Tliomas,  pp.  266-277.1  This  Eatton 
family  was  really  at  the  very  foundation  of  the  Baptists 
of  this  State  as  well  as  at  the  foundation  of  Theological  in- 
structions for  young  men  for  the  ministry  in  America,  as 
Isaac  Eatton,  one  of  the  descendants  of  this  same  family, 
established  the  first  school  of  the  kind  in  America  at  Hope- 
well, New  Jersey,  in  1756,  at  which  such  men  as  Doctors 
James  Manning,  first  President  of  Brown  University,  R.  I., 
Samuel  Jones,  Revs.  Hezekiah  Smith,  A.M.,  David  Thomas, 
A.M.,  Isaac  Skilman,  A.M.,  John  Davies,  A.M.,  &c.,  received 
their  first  instructions,  &c.  Thus  we  find  the  origin  of  the 
First  Church  of  Pennsylvania. 

But  there  is  another  church  in  Wales  to  which  the  Bap- 
tists of  Pennsylvania  are  indebted,  from  which  a  large  num- 
ber of  its  founders  came.  I  mean  the  Rhydwilym  Baptist 
Church  in  Carmarthenshire,  South  Wales. 

The  history  of  this  church  in  its  relation  to  the  first  Bap- 
tists of  Pennsylvania  is  very  important.  Joshua  Thomas 
says  that  Rhydwilym  was  the  only  Baptist  Church  which 
was  properly  organized  during  the  time  of  persecution 
between  1660  and  1688. 

Dr.Calamy  gave  the  history  of  many  that  were  persecuted 
in  the  17th  century,  and  more  especially  those  ministers  that 
were  turned  out  of  their  places  in  1660  and  1662,  because 
they  would  not  conform  to  the  ritualism  of  the  Church  of 
England.  Among  others  he  names  William  Jones,  who  was 
turned  out  of  a  place  v\hich  he  calls  Llangellbithen  in  Car- 
marthenshire. There  is  no  such  name  in  the  county.  It  is 
very  common  for  the  English  to  give  wrong  names  to  places 
in  Wales  because  of  their  ignorance  of  the  language. 

It  is  supposed  that  Llancilmaenllwyd  was  the  place  where 
William  Jones  ministered,  or  in  that  vicinity  ;  and  it  is 
very  probable  that  such  was  the  case,  inasmuch  as  his  reli- 
gious friends  resided  in  those  parts,  and  that  he  lived  there 
afterwards.  However,  we  can  believe  the  following  about 
Mr.  Jones,  because  it  was  written  to  Joshua  Thomas  by  Mr. 
John  Jenkins,  who  was  one  of  his  members,  and  lived  at 
that  time  :  — 

"  William  Jones  and  many  others  preached  in  the  churches 


152  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

in  the  time  of  Cromwell,  but  they  worshipped  after  tlie 
order  which  is  among  us  in  the  chapels,  but  after  the  res- 
toration of  Charles  II.  all  the  ministers  that  would  not  con- 
form to  the  entire  service  of  the  Church  of  England 
were  ejected  and  among  others  this  mass  was  ejected. 
But  it  was  not  enough  to  turn  them  out  of  the 
churches,  they  must  also  aim  at  hindering  them  from 
preaching  in  any  other  place.  Yet  these  ministers  thought 
it  was  their  duty  to  preach  if  they  could  have  hearers. 
Hence  many  of  them  preached  as  they  could,  and  many  of 
them  were  imprisoned.  After  Mr.  William  Jones  had  been 
ejected,  he  also  preached  as  often  as  he  could,  and  as 
secretly  as  possible,  but  the  laws  were  so  strict,  and  the 
persecutors  so  inquisitive  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to 
escape,  at  last  that  good  man  was  arrested  and  cast  into 
Carmarthen  Gaol.  William  Jones  was  a  Presbyterian  at 
that  time,  not  having  professed  believers'  baptism  whatever 
he  thought  of  it.  It  is  possible  that  he  met  Mr.  Jenkin  Jones 
and  others  of  the  Baptists  there,  and  that  they  conversed 
with  one  another  on  religious  subjects,  and  among  other 
subjects  that  of  baptism  came  up,  which  is  very  natural  to 
a  Baptist.  He  was  thoroughly  convinced  whilst  in  prison 
that  believers'  baptism  was  the  Scriptural  baptism,  but  he 
kept  his  views  mostly  to  himself.  He  was  in  prison  for 
about  three  years,  but  by  some  act  of  the  king  he  finally  ob- 
tained his  liberty.  He  was  greatly  respected  whilst  in 
prison  by  the  gaoler,  yet  after  his  acquital  he  went  away 
on  account  of  the  persecution,  and  it  seems  there  was  no 
regular  Baptist  Church  nearer  than  Abergavenny  or  Olchon. 
After  his  acquital  it  is  said  he  went  to  (31chon  Valley,  on 
the  borders  of  Herefordshire,  to  be  baptized  by  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Watkins.  After  his  baptism  he  returned  and  told 
his  friends  what  he  had  done,  and  why  he  was  baptized. 
In  about  two  weeks  after  his  return  he  baptized  eleven  of 
his  acquaintances  and  friends." 

Thus  he  continued  to  labour  in  the  counties  of  Carmarthen, 
Cardigan,  and  Pembroke  until  finally  April  12,  1668,  the  Rhyd- 
wilym  Church  was  organized  with  113  members,  and  on  the 
same  day  WilHam  Jones  and  Griffith  Howells  were  chosen 
elders  of  the  church. 

Now  this  church  was  the  mother  of  the  celebrated  Welsh 
Tract  Church,  called  the  "emigrating  church."  The  history 
of  this  church  may  be  given  in  the  words  of  Morgan  Edwards  : 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I53 

"  In  the  spring  of  tlie  year  1701  several  Baptists  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Pembroke  and  Carmarthen  resolved  to  go  to  America, 
and  as  one  was  a  minister  (Thomas  Griffiths),  they  were  ad- 
vised to  be  constituted  a  church.  They  agreed  with  the  advice. 
The  instrument  of  their  confederation  was  in  being  in  the 
year  1770,  but  is  now  lost  except  one  copy  in  possession  of 
Mr.  Isaac  Hughes,  and  that  without  a  date.  The  names  of 
the  confederates  follow: — Thomas  Griffith,  Griffith  Nicholas, 
Evan  Edmond,  John  Edward,  Elisha  Thomas,  Enoch  Morgan, 
Richard  David,  James  David,  Elizabeth  Griffith,  Lewis  Ed- 
mond, Mary  John,  Mary  Thomas,  Elizabeth  Griffith  (jun.), 
Jennet  David,  Margaret  Mathias,  and  Jennet  Morris.  These 
sixteen  persons  (which  may  be  styled  a  church  "  emigrant "' 
and  "  sailant  ")  met  at  Milford  in  the  month  of  June,  1701,  and 
embarked  on  board  of  the  good  ship  "James  and  Mary,"  and  on 
the  eighth  of  September  following  landed  at  Philadelphia.  The 
brethren  there  treated  them  courteously,  and  advised  them  to 
settle  at  Pennepek,  thither  they  went  and  there  continued  about 
a  year  and  a  half."  (Morgan  Edwards.) 

"  It  has  been  said  that  this  was  really  the  first  regular  Bap- 
tist Church  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  Tlie  first  five  pastors 
of  this  church,  viz.,  Thomas  Griffiths,  Elisha  Thomas,  Enoch 
Morgan,  Owen  Tfiomas,  and  David  Davies  were  from  the 
vicinity  of  Rhydwilym.  Rhydwilym  Church  was  also  the 
mother  of  the  Great  Valley  Church,  which  is  regarded  now  as 
second  oldest  Baptist  Church  in  Pennsylvania." 

"  In  1 701 -2  several  families  from  Wales  arrived  and  settled 
in  the  east  end  of  the  said  valley,  one  of  whom  was  James 
Davies,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Rhydwilym  in 
Carmarthenshire.  Near  to  his  plantation  in  Kadnor  Township 
lived  one  Richard  Miles  who,  with  his  wife,  had  been  baptized 
a  little  before  by  William  Beckingham  in  Upper  Providence. 
These  two  families  consorted  together  and  invited  ministers 
from  other  parts  to  preach  at  their  houses,  by  which  means 
several  were  baptized." 

In  1 7 10  Rev.  Hugh  Davies  and  several  other  Baptists  a,r- 
rived  from  Wales,  so  that  their  number  had  increased  to  six- 
teen persons,  and  they  then  resolved  to  form  a  church.  This 
important  event  took  place  April  22,  1711,  with  the  approval 
of  the  Welsh  Tract  Church  in  Delaware,  whose  pastor.  Rev. 
Elisha  Thomas,  was  present  and  conducted  the  services.  .  .  . 
The  names  of  the  constituents  were  Rev.  Hugh  Davies,  Wil- 
liam Thomas   Hugh,  Arthur    Edwards,  William   Davies,  Mar- 


154  REMINISCENCES— AMERICA. 

garet  Davies,  Joan  Miles,  Jane  Miles,  Margaret  Phillips, 
Margaret  Evans,  William  Rees,  Alexander  Owen,  John 
Evans,  Marcaret  Evans,  James  Davies,  Richard  Miles  and 
wife.  (Horatio  Gates  Jones.) 

Thns  we  find  that  the  chief  founders  of  the  Lower  Dublin 
Welsh  Tract  and  Great  Valley  Church  came  from  Radnorshire 
and  Carmarthenshire,  and  other  counties  in  South  Wales. 
These  churches  and  their  pastors  were  full  of  the  missionary- 
spirit,  hence  they  preached  whenever  they  Imd  an  opportunity, 
and  established  many  churches,  many  of  whom  might  be  named 
had  we  the  time,  but  permit  me  to  mention  a  few  of  the  oldest 
that  grew  out  of  these  first  churches. 


THE    FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH     OF 
PHILADELPHIA. 

The  first  Baptist  who  expressed  a  desire  to  organize  a  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Philadelphia  was  John  Holmes.  He  was  a 
man  of  property  and  learning,  and  therefore  we  find  him  in  the 
magistracy  of  the  place  in  i6gi.  He  died  Judge  of  Salem 
Court.  In  1696  two  others  came  from  London  from  the  church 
of  the  famous  Hansard  Knollys,  viz.,  John  Farmer  and  his 
wife.  In  1697  two  others,  Joseph  Todd  and  Rebecca  Woos- 
oncroft  came  from  Lemington,  Hampshire,  England.  The 
same  year  William  Silvestone,  William  Elton  and  wife,  with 
Mary  Shepard  were  baptized  by  Thomas  Villingsworth.  The 
second  Siu:day  of  December,  1698,  these  nine  persons  assem- 
bled in  the  Barbadoes  Storehouse,  situated  on  the  Barbadoes 
lot,  corner  of  Second  and  Chestnut  Streets,  Philadelphia,  and 
organized  themselves  into  a  regular  Baptist  Church.  The  cele- 
brated Rev.  John  Watts  of  Pennepek  was  the  minister  who 
served  om  this  occasion. 

This  church  in  its  early  life  had  to  contend  with  much  op- 
position, both  from  external  and  internal  ditHculties.  From 
i6g8  imtil  1746  the  church  was  under  the  care  of  the  pastors 
of  Pennepek,  such  as  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  Evan  Morgan,  Nath- 
aniel Jenkins,  Thomas  Grffiths,  Elisha  Thomas,  Enoch  Mor- 
gan, Abel  Morgan,  &c.  The  latter  was  the  means  of  healing 
the  breach  made  by  Thomas  Shelby.  But  the  first  settled 
pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  Jenkin  Jones. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I55 

He  was  born  in  1690  at  Llanfyrnach,  Pembrokeshire,  South 
Wales,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1710.  Benedict  says  he 
took  charge  of  the  First  Church  of  Philadelphia  May  15,  1746, 
at  the  time  the  church  was  reconstituted.  .  .  .  He  died 
July  16,  1761.  Mr.  Jones  was  a  good  man,  and  performed 
valuable  service  to  his  church  and  denomination.  He  was  the 
cause  of  changing  the  marriage  laws  of  the  colony,  so  that 
dissenting  ministers  might  celebrate  marriages.  He  built  a 
parsonage  largely  at  his  own  expense  ;  he  left  a  legacy  towards 
purchasing  a  silver  cup  for  the  Lord's  Table  which  is  worth 
£^0.     His  name  is  engraven  upon  it. 

This  church  has  been  highly  favoured  in  its  pastors,  such  as 
Kennersley,  Morgan,  Edwards,  Staughton,  Brantley,  &c.,  but 
the  last  and  not  the  least  is  our  famous  Dr.  Boardman  The 
only  churches  that  we  shall  notice  again  as  really  formed 
among  the  foundation  Baptist  Churches  of  Pennsylvania  are 
the  Montgomery,  New  Britain  and  Hillsville. 

The  first  Baptist  settlers  in  Montgomery  were  John  Evans 
and  Sarah  his  wife.  They  came  from  Carmarthenshire,  South 
Wales.  They  arrived  here  in  1710.  The  next  year  John 
James  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  from  the  same  principality,  and 
twelve  from  Rhydwilym  joined  them.  They  were  visited  by 
Rev.  Abel  Morgan  occasionally,  who  preached  the  word  to  all 
who  came  to  hear  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Evans.  God's  blessing 
attended  these  visits,  and  Mr.  Morgan  was  permitted  to  bap- 
tize several  persons.  They  were  at  length  advised  either  to 
unite  with  the  church  at  Pennepek  or  establish  one  in  their 
own  neighbourhood.  Not  being  familiar  with  the  English 
language,  and  that  church  being  so  distant,  they  concluded 
that  it  was  best  they  should  organize  one  by  themselves.  Mr, 
Morgan  approved  this  step,  and  on  June  20th,  17 19,  they  were 
constituted  as  a  distinct  Baptist  Church  with  ten  members. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  constituents  : — John  Evans, 
Sarah  Evans,  John  James,  Elizabeth  James,  William  James, 
Thomas  James,  Josiah  James,  James  Lewis,  David  Williams 
and  James  Davis.  Such  was  the  beginning  of  the  old  Mont- 
gomery Church. 

For  a  number  of  years,  this  church  was  supplied  by  Elisha 
Thomas  and  others  from  the  Welsh  Tract  Church  ;  they  soon 
had  William  Thomas  and  John  James  to  preach  among  them. 
In  1722  John  James,  David  Evans,  Benjamin  Griffith  and 
Joseph  Eaton  were  called  by  the  Church  to  exercise  their 
gifts  upon  trial.     October  24th,  1725,  its  first  pastor  the   Rev. 


156  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Benjamin  Griffith  was  ordained  by  Revs.  Elisha  Thomas  and 
Jenkin  Jones.  We  cannot  close  this  sketch  without  a  brief 
notice  of  that  remarkable  man  who  did  so  much  for  the  Bap- 
tist cause  in  Bucks  Co  and  other  places — I  mean  William 
Thomas.  He  was  born  in  the  Parish  of  Llanwenarth,  Mon- 
mouthshire, VVales,  in  1678,  of  a  family  who  were  freeholders 
of  an  estate  of  considerable  value  He  had  quite  a  superior 
education.  He  came  to  x^merica  February  14th,  1712,  under 
peculiar  circumstances,  having  been  robbed  of  his  money  by 
the  captain  of  the  vessel  on  which  he,  with  his  wife  and  son 
Thomas  had  paid  for  a  passage,  but  which  started  before  the 
time  appointed.  Taking  another  vessel,  when  they  reached 
Philadelphia,  they  found  that  the  master  of  the  vessel  in  which 
they  at  first  had  taken  passage  had  absconded  with  all  their 
property. 

Having  acquired  while  in  Whales  the  trade  of  a  cooper,  he 
found  occupation  at  once,  and  m  171 3  settled  in  Radnor 
Township,  where  he  was  wonderfully  prosperous,  and  in  a 
few  years  he  removed  to  Bucks  County,  where  as  early  as  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1718,  he  purchased  a  farm  of  440  acres.  He  con- 
tinued to  prosper  as  a  farmer,  and  secured  before  his  death 
about  125S  acres  of  valuable  land.  While  yet  in  \\'ales  he 
was  accustomed  to  preach,  having  a  gift  as  a  speaker  and 
exhorter.  On  coming  to  America  he  continued  to  exercise  his 
gifts,  and  not  only  assisted  Mr.  Griffith  at  Montgomery,  but 
he  preached  also  in  various  parts  of  Bucks  County,  especially 
in  Hilltown,  and  as  early  as  1737  erected  a  meeting  house, 
and  gave  a  lot  of  ground  containing  four  acres,  in  which  he 
was  accustomed  to  preach  both  in  English  and  Welsh  until 
his  death,  which  occured  October  6th,  1757,  at  the  age  of  79. 
He  gave  to  each  of  his  seven  children  a  plantation  on  which 
he  erected  good  stone  houses."  (Horatio  Gates  Jones  quoted 
in  history  of  Montgomery  Church.)  "  In  his  will  respecting  the 
graveyard  at  Hilltown  lie  says  that  "all  far  and  near,  black 
and  white,"  are  at  liberty  to  bury  their  dead  in  it.  There  is 
only  one  exception — "  such  as  are  guilty  of  self-murder  I  only 
reject  and  deny  to  be  buried  in  my  graveyard,  or  in  any 
part  of  my  land." 

His  will  was  more  liberal  than  that  of  General  Lee  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  Pie  had  this  clause  put  in  his  will — "Bury  me  not 
within  a  mile  of  any  Presbyterian  Church  nor  of  a  Baptist 
Church,  because  since  I  came  to  reside  in  this  country  I  have 
spent  so  much  of  my  time  among  these  wlien  alive,  that  I  don't 
wish  to  continue  in  their  fellowship  when  I  am  dead*"    (Morton 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  157 

in  "  Yr  Elfen  Gymreig  ")  Thus  3'ou  see  that  the  original  Bap- 
tists of  Pennsylvania  came  chiefly  from  South  Wales. 

THE  PROGRESS    OF    THE   BAPTISTS    IN 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

I  can  only  give  you  in  brief  the  statistics  of  our  present 
condition  in  the  state.  According  to  the  statistics  of  1887  we 
have  in  Pennsylvania  24  Associations,  608  Churches  with  a 
membership  of  75,277  ;  net  increase  last  year,  2,619.  "  Penn- 
sylvania Baptists  were  early  friends  of  ministerial  education. 
In  1756  Rev.  Isaac  Eaton,  a  native  of  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa., 
commenced  an  Academy  at  Hopewell,  N.J.,  for  the  education 
of  young  ministers  and  others.  The  Philadelphia  Association 
gave  some  ^^400  to  aid  this  enterprise,  and  appointed  a  com- 
mittee of  inspection,  consisting  of  four  able  brethren.  Samuel 
Jones,  D.D.,  taught  a  classical  academy  at  Pennepek  for  some 
time,  where  Theological  instruction  was  also  given  to  students 
for  the  ministry,  not  a  few  of  whom  were  educated  under  his 
roof.  Dr.  Jones  was  sought  for  the  presidency  of  Rhode  Island 
College,  now  Brown  University,  at  the  decease  of  Dr.  Manning. 
We  have  now  in  Pennsylvania  one  university,  one  theological 
seminary  and  five  academies,  with  property  valued  in  1884  at 
,11,373,000.  May  18,  1814,  the  Baptist  Foreign  Union  Society 
of  America  was  organized  in  Philadelphia,  whose  influence  is 
now  felt  throughout  the  world.  At  its  meeting  May  25th,  1814 
it  was  voted  "that  Rev.  Adoniram  Judson,  now  in  India,  be 
considered  as  a  missionary  under  the  direction  of  this  board." 

In  1826  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society  was  re- 
moved from  Washington  where  it  had  been  founded  in  1824, 
and  has  remained  here  ever  since.  Its  property  and  funds  in 
Chestnut  Street  are  valued  at  •1700,000 — the  Baptist  Home 
and  Infirmary  and  the  Baptist  Orphanage  are  probably  worth 
§200,000.  The  Baptist  City  Misssion  of  Philadelphia,  the 
General  Association  of  the  State,  and  the  Education  Society 
receive  nearly  §50,000  per  annum.  (Dr.  Cathcart  at  Allen- 
town,  1884) — "  What  hath  God  wrought."  The  hand  of  the 
Lord  has  been  with  our  fathers,  so  that  they  have  left  us  a 
noble  legacy. 

The  founders  of  our  Churches  have  been  gathered  home, 
still  the  cause  lives  on  and  prospers.  In  a  few  years,  we  too, 
shall  be  gathered  to  the  fathers,  but  the  work  of  our  God  will 
go  on  for  ever. 


158  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

"  Who'll  press  for  the  gold,  the  crowded  streets, 

Two  hundred  years  to  come. 
Who'll  tread  our  state  with  pious  feet 

Two  hundred  years  to  come. 
Pale  trembling  age  and  fiery  youtli 
And  childhood  with  its  brow  of  truth, 
The  rich,  the  poor,  on  land,  on  sea, 
Where  will  the  mighty  millions  be 

Two  hundred  years  to  come? 
We  all  within  our  graves  shall  sleep 

Two  hundred  years  to  come, 
No  living  soul  for  us  will  weep 

Two  hundred  years  to  come. 
But  others  then  our  land  will  till 
And  others  then  our  seats  will  fill 
And  others  here  will  preach  and  pray 
But  the  same  gospel  as  to-day. 

Two  hundred  years  to  come." 

Quoted  by  the  Rev.  D.  Spencer  in  the  paper  he  read  at 
Allentown,  October  21,  1884. 

The  facts  found  in  this  paper  have  been  compiled  from 
Joshua  Thomas,  Henry  Price,  Tirbach,  W^elsh  authors  and 
others. 

Lansdale,  Pa.,  May  8th,  1888. 


LLANWENARTH   CHURCH. 

An  address  delivered  at  the  re-union  of  the  descendants  of 
Elder  Wm.  Thomas  at  Funk's  Park,  Bucks  county.  Pa., 
August  23,  1902.  The  materials  of  the  above  address  have 
been  taken  mostly  from  the  Histories  of  the  Welsh  Baptists, 
by  the  Revs.  Joshua  Thomas,  D.  Jones,  J.  Spinther  James, 
M.A.  and  Thomas  Armitage,  and  also  "  the  Sunday  School 
Star." 

During  the  latter  half  of  the  17th  century  and  the  first  half 
of  the  1 8th  century  several  Welsh  Baptist  Churches  in  W'ales 
became  noted  as  sources  whence  many  came  to  America  and 
became  the  founders  of  the  Baptists  of  America  in  different 
states.     Dolau,  Radnorshire,  furnished  the  most  of  the   mem- 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  159 

bers  that  founded  the  old  Pennepek  Church,  (now  Lower 
Dublin,  Philadelphia),  in  1688.  The  Batons  and  others, 
Rhydwilyni  Church,  Pembrokeshire,  sent  an  organized 
church  of  sixteen  members  with  Rev  Thomas  Griffith  as 
pastor  in  1701,  who  became  the  founders  of  the  old  Welsh 
Tract,  Del.  Cilfowyr  furnished  most  of  the  men  and  women  who 
became  the  founders  of  the  old  Great  Valley  Church  Pennsyl- 
vania in  171 1,  and  among  others  we  find  Llanwenarth  occupy- 
ing a  prominent  position  in  its  relation  to  the  Baptists  of  this 
part  of  Pennsylvania  (Bucks  and  Montgomery  Counties),  as 
the  church  from  which  Elder  William  Thomas  came  to 
America  in  1712.  Time  would  not  permit  me  to  give  you  a 
minute  history  of  this  dear  old  church,  even  if  I  were  able  to 
do  so,  but  Iwish  to  give  you  briefly  a  few  facts  respecting  its 
origin,  a  few  notable  events ;  some  of  its  prominent  pastors 
and  its  present  condition. 

I.— ITS  ORIGIN. 

Llanwenarth  Church  really  originated  from  Abergavenny 
in  1652, 

Abergavenny  is  situated  in  the  north  eastern  part  of  Mon- 
mouthshire, Wales,  in  the  valley  of  the  Usk,  and  the  late 
Kilsby  Jones  remarked  that  "  the  word  is  not  yet  coined  to 
describe  the  beauty  of  this  valley,"  also,  it  is  not  far  from  the 
Black  Mountains,  among  which  dissentism  was  nourished 
The  church  was  gathered  sometime  in  1652,  little  is  known  of 
its  origin,  it  seems  that  the  first  communicants  were  twenty- 
five  in  all  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  church  they 
arranged  their  services  as  follows  : 

The  Lord's  supper  was  to  be  administered  on  the  first 
Sabbath  of  each  month,  and  the  following  Wednesday  was  to 
be  spent  in  fasting  and  prayer.  The  cliurch  was  to  meet  at 
Abergavenny  every  Sabbath,  and  for  the  convenience  of  those 
who  lived  at  a  far  distance  a  preachiug  service  was  to  be  held 
at  the  home  of  some  brother  at  Llanfihangel  on  the  first  day 
after  communion,  and  a  general  meeting  of  all  the  members 
was  to  be  held  at  Llanwenarth  on  the  fifth  day  after  com- 
munion, also  preaching  service  was  to  be  held  every  Sabbath  at 
Llangybi,  and  the  preaching  was  to  be  done  by  the  brethren 
recommended  by  the  church,  and  the  Lord's  Supper  was  to  be 
administered  there  every  three  months,  and  weekly  meetings 
on  the  fourth  day  at  the  home  of  some  brother.  (See  Thomas 
p.  210.) 


l6o  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  Abergavenny  church  met  at  four  dif- 
ferent places  and  one  of  these  was  Llanwenarth  which  became 
one  of  the  most  prominent  churches  in  the  country.  Llan- 
wenarth is  about  two  miles  and  a  half  from  Abergavenny. 
In  this  arrangement  we  see  the  missionary  spirit  and  the 
systematic  method  that  characterised  the  Christian  work  of  our 
fathers,  and  when  they  came  to  America  we  find  the  '^ame 
spirit  and  methods  in  the  early  history  of  the  Baptists  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey.  The  most  of  the  churches  in 
Wales  were  started  and  developed  after  the  above  method. 
It  is  no  wonder  that  Dr.  W.  W.  Keen  in  his  history  of  the 
first  Baptist  Church  of  Philadelphia  says  that  "  the  prepond- 
erance ot  the  Welsh  element  in  the  early  history  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Association  and  especially  our  own  church  is  worthy 
of  note.  Of  the  first  six  pastors  of  Pennepek  and 
Philadelphia,  three — Samuel  Jones  and  both  the  Morgans' 
W'Cre  Welshmen,  to  whom  are  to  be  added  their  immediate 
successors,  Jenkin  Jones  and  Morgan  Edwards.  Their  force 
of  character  counted  far  more  than  their  mere  numbers. 
To  this  fact  is  due  the  sturdy  Calvinistic  faith  which  was 
characteristic,  not  only  of  our  own,  but  of  nearly  all  the 
churches  of  the  Philadelphia  Association.  Even  so  late  as 
Feb.  14,  1 83 1,  separate  services  in  the  Welsh  language  were 
held    in    our      own      church.  The     Welsh     names,     at 

present  so  familiar  on  the  line  of  the  Pennsylvannia  Railroad 
(yes,  and  the  North  Penn.)  bear  witness  to  the  many  Welsh- 
men who  settled  in  this  vicinity.  (History  First  Bapt.  Ch. 
Phil.,  p.  54).  The  churches  of  this  section  are  included,  viz. 
Montgomery,   Hilltown,  etc. 

II.— A     FEW     OF     ITS     NOTABLE 
EVENTS. 

Though  the  Llanwenarth  church  has  always  been  what  we 
would  call  in  this  country  "  a  country  church"  yet  it  stands 
prominent  in  Welsh  Baptist  History  as  having  had  in  con- 
nection with  its  history  some  of  the  most  notable  events  in  the 
history  of  our  people.     We  will  note  a  few  of  them. 

I  St.  Its  action  in  Relation  to  State  appropriations  for  the 
support  of  the  Gospel — February  25th,  1649,  during  the  days 
of  the  Commonwealth  under  Cromwell,  an  act  was  passed  en- 
titled, "An  act  for  the  better  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Wales."  This  act  authorised  the  appointment  of  a  commit- 
tee to  examine  preachers,  and  those  whom  they  recommended 
received  aid  from  the  state.  It  is  said  that  some  Baptist 
ministers  received  aid  under  the  act  of  1649  ;    but  as  soon   as 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  l6l 

the  Baptists  saw  that  they  had  compromised  their  principles  by 
their  blunder  they  retreated  from  their  false  position,  and 
\'avasor  Powell  says  that  he  and  many  of  his  brothers  "  did 
not  take  any  salary  at  all,  nor  any  other  maintenance  whatever 
since  the  year  1653,"  but  the  Llanwenarth  Church  felt  so  deeply 
on  this  matter  that  they  entered  the  following  on  their  church 
book,  "  Whether  gospel  ministers  may  receive  payment  from 
the  magistrate,  Mr.  William  Pritchard  (their  minister)  was 
advised  to  reject  the  offer  of  state  money,  and  their  record  was 
agreed  to  on  "the  nth  day  of  the  fifth  month,  1655,  and  also 
that  they  (the  church),  do  withdraw  from  all  such  ministers 
that  do  receive  maintenance  from  the  magistrates,  and  from 
all  such  as  consent  not  to  wholesome  doctrine  or  teach  other- 
wise." (See  Armitage's  History  of  the  Baptists,  p.  602.) 
Surely  this  was  a  complete  separation  of  church  and  state, 
this  is  a  distinctive  principle  among  the  Baptists  of  America 
also.  A  few  years  ago  when  a  bill  was  introduced  to  Congress 
at  Washington  to  abolish  state  appropriations  for  religious 
purposes,  its  author  Mr. said,  that  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination was  the  only  denomination  that  had  positively  de- 
clined to  receive  any  aid.  Have  3'ou  any  idea  how  much  this 
country  owes  to  the  old  Llanwenarth  church  for  the  stand  she 
took  on  the  question  ? 

2.  Its  possession  of  the  first  meeting  house  in  modern 
times — Of  course  I  am  speaking  of  the  Baptists.  Some  say 
that  the  first  meeting  house  was  built  at  Hay  near  Olchon  in 
1649,  but  according  to  Thomas  the  first  was  at  Llanwenarth  in 
1695.  (A's  B.  H.  p.  600.)  Prior  to  that  the  dissenters,  in- 
cluding Baptists  and  Congregationalists  had  no  public  places 
of  worship,  they  had  to  meet  in  the  most  secluded  places  among 
the  mountains  and  in  the  valleys  of  Wales,  and  many  a  se- 
cluded spot  in  Wales  is  now  historic  as  having  been  the  re- 
fuge of  God's  chosen  ones,  and  not  far  from  Llanwenarth  is 
what  is  known  as  "  the  Black  Rock,"  a  terribly  steep  and 
rough  place,  in  which  the  Baptists  took  refuge,  rich  and  poor, 
young  and  old  huddled  together  "  to  escape  the  wrath  of  the 
enemy,  but  at  last  the  time  came  when  they  had  liberty  to  meet 
in  public  and  Llanwenarth  is  said  to  have  had  the  honor  of  erect- 
ing the  first  meeting  house  which  we  said  was  done  in  1695. 
At  the  time  of  the  dedication  of  this  church  Elder  Wm.  Thomas 
was  17  years  of  age,  and  it  is  more  than  likely  that  he  was 
present  on  such  an  auspicious  occasion.  Since  then  the  meet- 
ing house  has  been  greatly  improved,  but  in  a  letter  which  the 
present  pastor,  Rev.  Thos.  H.  Williams,  sent  me  May  15th, 
1902,  he  says  that  "  the  old  shell  "  still  remains. 


l62  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

3.  Its  Relation  to  the  Reorganization  of  the  Welsh  Baptist 
Association. — The  first  Welsh  Baptist  Association  was  or- 
.ganized  at  Ilston  near  Swansea,  in  1650,  by  the  Rev  John 
Myles,  the  great  ancestor  of  the  present  Lieut.  Gen.  N.  A. 
Myles  of  the  United  States  Army,  three  churches  formed  the 
association,  Olchon,  Ilston,  and  Llanharan  (now  Hengoed). 
The  association  was  held  annually  and  grew  constantly,  but  in 
proportion  as  they  grew  they  were  assailed  by  pen  and  tongue 
from  all  quarters,  and  in  1656  the  elders  and  messengers  of 
eight  churches  met  at  Brecon  and  published  "An  Antidote 
against  the  Times"  in  self-defence,  this  was  probably  the 
first  Welsh  Baptist  Book." 

But  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.  May  29th,  1660,  we 
hear  no  more  of  the  association  for  twenty  eight  years,  during 
all  this  period  they  were  bitterly  persecuted  so  that  they  could 
not  walk  the  streets  and  were  abused  in  their  own  homes. 

DifTerent  acts  were  passed  to  crush  them,  but  at  last  relief 
came  by  the  ascension  of  William  and  Mary  to  the  throne  in 
i68g,  when  what  is  known  as  the  "Act  of  Toleration  "  was  en- 
acted by  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain.  A  general  confer- 
ence of  the  Baptists  of  England  and  Wales  met  that  year  in 
London  :  "  about  a  hundred  churches  are  said  to  have  been 
represented  at  that  conference,"  seven  ministers  went  up  from 
Wales,  and  the  assembly  set  forth  a  Confession  of  Faith.  The 
Welsh  Association  consisting  of  ten  churches  reassembled  at 
Llanwenarth,  May  6th,  1700,  and  from  that  time  on  the  Bap- 
tists have  continued  to  grow.     (A's  B.H.  604.). 

All  these  events  show  the  prominence  of  the  Church  in 
Welsh  Baptist  History,  and  doubtless  Elder  Wm.  Thomas 
was  present  on  the  above  occasion. 

III.— A  FEW  OF   THE  NOTED    PREACHERS 
OF  THIS  CHURCH. 

Time  and  space  will  not  permit  me  to  note  as  many  as  I 
would  like  to,  hence  I  will  note  only  a  few.  The  first  we  shall 
name  is  the  Rev,  Joshua  Watkins. 

Mr.  Watkins  was  never  a  pastor  of  this  church, but  he  was  one 
of  its  spiritual  children.  He  was  born  at  Crughywel  in  1769. 
He  became  a  member  of  Llanwenarth  in  early  life,  and  began 
to  preach  there,  and  then  left  for  Carmarthen,  and  became  a 
co-worker  with  the  immortal  Morgan  John  Rhees  in  1792  in 
press  work.     (Morgan  John  Rhees  was  the  great  grandfather 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  163. 

of  Dr.  Rush  Rees,  President  of  Rochester  University,  New 
York,  .and  Dr.  Nicholas  Murray  Buttier,  President  of  Colum- 
bia University,  N.Y.,  see  his  life  by  the  writer,  price  60c.)  Mr. 
Watkins  was  with  Mr.  Morgan  J.  Rhees  at  Liverpool,  when 
the  latter  sailed  for  America  in  August,  1794,  never  again  to 
see  each  other  in  this  life.  Then  he  returned  to  Carmarthen 
and  continued  his  press  work  for  some  years,  and  then  sold  all 
for  150  dollars.  March  28th,  1796,  he  was  ordained  as  pastor 
of  Penuel  Church,  Carmarthen,  and  continued  in  this  relation- 
ship until  his  death  which  occured  June  21st,  1841,  aged  72 
years.  He  did  a  great  work  in  his  day  in  Wales,  and  was 
known  as  the  apostle  Paul  of  the  Baptists  of  Carmarthenshire. 

FRANCIS  HILEY. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Hiley  is  one  of  the  most  noted  pastors  Llan- 
wenarth  ever  had  and  in  his  day  was  one  of  the  most  eminent 
ministers  of  Wales.  Mr.  Hiley  was  born  in  Llanwenarth 
parish  in  1781.  His  parents  were  m  prosperous  circumstances 
and  they  gave  their  son  as  good  an  education  as  could  be  ob- 
tained in  those  times.  He  spent  his  early  life  in  sin,  but  not 
without  at  times  profound  convictions  as  to  the  evil  and  re- 
sults of  sin  and  an  intention  of  becoming  a  Cliristian  some 
time.  In  his  young  manhood  he  was  hired  as  an  apprentice 
by  a  well  to  do  farmer  in  the  neighborhood  of  Abergavenny. 
This  farmer  was  a  good  man  and  a  member  at  Llanwenarth  ; 
he  was  in  the  habit  of  alvv^ays  inviting  his  family  and  his  em- 
ployees to  go  with  him  to  church,  but  very  seldom  could  he 
get  Francis  Hiley  to  go.  On  a  certain  Sunday  morning  in 
1803,  he  decided  that  instead  of  going  to  church  wath  his 
master  and  family,  that  he  would  spend  the  day  in  walking  in 
the  fields  in  his  working  clothes.  We  will  give  the  account  ot 
this  day  in  his  own  words,  "  On  a  Sunday  morning  which  I 
shall  never  forget,  after  I  had  decided  not  to  go  to  the  meet- 
ing but  to  spend  the  day  in  walking,  there  came  to  my  mind  a 
serious  thought  telling  me  that  I  must  go  to  the  meeting  and  it 
seemed  as  though  a  supernatural  power  was  persuading  me 
not  to  follow  that  way  to  ruin  any  further.  I  turned  back 
at  once  and  I  went  to  meeting  where  Brother  Morgan  David 
was  preaching  from  the  words,  "  Ye  are  dead  and  your  life  is 
hid  with  Christ  in  God  "  and  as  he  quoted  Paul's  words, "And 
he  found  in  him  not  having  mine  own  righteousness  which  is 
of  the  law,"  I  was  convinced  of  my  danger  as  a  sinner  and  the 
influence  on  my  soul  was  such  that  I  could  not  return  home 
without  weeping  and  praying  much  for  mercy."  He  was 
made  a  new  man  that  day  and  became  a  member  of  the  church 
He  soon  began  to  preach  there  and  in  1808  was  received  into 
Abergavenny  college.      In  1811  he  was  ordained  at   Llanwen- 


164  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

arth  as  co-pastor  with  James  Lewis.  He  remained  pastor 
of  the  church  until  his  death  which  occurred  October  14,  i860, 
aged  79  years,  having  preached  at  Llanwenarth  50  years  and 
was  regarded  as  a  prince  among  his  brethren  in  the  denomi- 
nation at  large. 

Shortly  before  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Hiley,  the  Rev.  R. 
Johns  became  co-pastor  with  him  and  continued  in  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  old  church  for  some  years  after  the  death  of  the  Rev 
Hiley.  He  then  removed  to  Bethlehem  Llanelly,  where  he 
died  in  December,  1888,  and  his  remains  were  interred  at  the 
old  Llanwenarth  cemetery. 

Mr.  Johns  was  highly  respected,  for  his  Christian  character, 
and  his  preaching  and  pastoral  abilities. 

The  name  of  the  present  pastor  is  Thomas  H.  Williams  who 
has  been  with  them  over  17  years  and  highly  esteemed  as  a 
Christian,  pastor  and  preacher. 

PRESENT  CONDITION. 

Though  it  was  organized  250  years  ago,  yet  it  still  lives  and 
is  prosperous.  During  the  first  fifty  years  or  so  of  its  existence 
it  saw  great  persecutions.  On  one  of  its  tombstones  in  its 
cemetery  may  be  seen  the  following  lines  which  indicate  some 
of  the  trials  of  its  members  and  also  their  loyalty. 

"  Here  lieth  one  of  Abel's  race,  whom 

Cain  did  hunt  from  place  to  place, 
Yet  not  dismayed,  about  he  went 

Working  until  the  days  were  spent, 
He  is  now  at  rest  and  takes  a  nap 

Upon  our  common  mother's  lap 
Awaiting  to  hear  the  Bridegroom  say 

'  Arise  my  loved  and  come  this  way.' " 

During  its  entire  history,  it  has  been  a  missionary  church, 
so  that  a  large  number  of  churches  owe  their  origin  to  Llan- 
wenarth, yet  notwithstanding  all  this  and  the  fact  that  it  is 
settled  in  a  rural  district,  it  has  at  present  a  membership  of 
130  and  a  Sunday  School  that  numbers  nearly  200  in  one  of 
the  most  comfortable  meeting  houses  in  Wales.  It  has  an 
endowment  that  brings  to  it  about  S60  per  year.  The  Lord 
be  praised  for  having  kept  such  a  church  shining  through  so 
many  years,  and  may  it  continue  to  hold  forth  the  word  of  life 
until  the  Bridegroom  comes,  as  the  line  states  on  the  tomb- 
stone. 


RELIGIOUS     LIBERTY. 


THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF  CIVIL 

AND    RELIGIOUS    FREEDOM    IN 

AMERICA. 


Great  ideas  have  taken  centuries  to  develop  and  mature.  In 
tlie  course  of  their  development  they  were  opposed,  and  in 
order  to  mature  they  had  to  overcome  those  oppositions.  This 
is  true  of  the  ideas  of  civil  and  religious  freedom.  They  are  as 
old  as  the  apostolic  age,  they  developed  in  the  face  of  much  op- 
position through  the  centuries,  and  they  culminated  in 
America.  It  would  be  very  interesting  to  trace  the  history  of 
this  principle,  as  it  was  advocated  in  different  countries  and 
centuries  previous  to  the  discovery  of  America,  but  time  would 
not  permit,  and  our  topic  limits  us  to  America  at  present.  In 
order  to  make  the  matter  as  clear  as  possible  I  shall  look  at 
the  principle  of  freedom  :  i.  In  the  colonial  era.  2.  In  the 
post-colonial  era. 

Freedom  in  the  Colonial  Era. 

New  England  was  settled  chiefly  by  the  Pilgrim  Fathers 
and  the  Puritans ;  Virginia,  chiefly  by  Episcopalians  and 
others,  and  Maryland  b}'  a  colony  of  Catholics,  under  Leonard 
Calvert,  son  of  Sir  George  Calvert,  who  is  known  as  Lord 
Baltimore.  They  settled  at  St.  Mary's  in  the  year  1633.  See 
Ridpath's  History,  Vol.  II,  page  746. 

Some  claim  that  freedom  was  first  established  in  Maryland 
by  Lord  Baltimore.     Others  hold  that  freedom  was  first   esta- 

F 


l66  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

blished  in  Rhode  Island  by  Roger  Williams.  The  only  way 
by  which  this  question  can  he  settled  is  by  comparing  the 
principles  that  governed  Maryland  and  the  dates  of  their  es- 
tablishment with  those  of  Rhode  Island.  It  is  true  that 
"  Lord  Baltimore  was  a  man  of  tolerant  spirit  and  that  his 
colony  was  partially  tolerant,  but  it  was  not  founded  in  com- 
plete religious  liberty."  This  is  evident  when  we  look  at  the 
nature  of  the  laws  that  were  enacted  in  Maryland  for  the 
government  of  religion.  "  The  charter  of  Maryland  required 
that  all  places  of  worship  must  be  consecrated  according  to  the 
'  Ecclesiastical  laws  of  England,  and  all  laws  be  'consonant  to 
the  laws  of  England.'  It  vested  all  church  patronage  in  the 
proprietor.  Lord  Baltimore  desired  a  refuge  for  persecuted 
Romanists,  and  no  charter  which  permitted  the  exclusion  of 
Protestants  could  be  obtained  from  an  Episcopal  king 
and  parliament.  To  insure  security;  for  Catholics  and  yet 
admit  Episcopalians,  a  liberal  clause  in  the  charter  of  1632 
secured  toleration  to  Christians.  But  what  was  the  legal 
enactment  ?  The  Maryland  act  of  toleration  was  passed  in 
1649.  This  act  is  16  and  17,  Cecelius  Lord  Baltimore,  Laws 
of  Maryland  at  large."  (7  Bacon,  1765.)  This  act  was  limi- 
ted toleration  and  not  freedom  of  conscience. 

"I.  It  provided  that  '  blasphemy  against  God,  denying  our 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ  to  be  the  Son  of  God,  or  denying  the 
holy  Trinity,  should  be  punished  with  death  and  confiscation 
of  lands  and  goods  to  the  Lord  Proprietary  !" 

"  2.  Persons  using  any  reproachful  words  or  speeches  con- 
cerning the  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  Mother  of  our  Saviour,  or  the 
holy  apostles,  or  Evangelists  or  any  of  them,  for  the  first  of- 
fense, to  forfeit  five  pounds  sterling,  to  the  Lord  Proprietary, 
or  in  default  of  payment  to  be  publicly  whipped,  or  im- 
prisoned at  the  pleasure  cf  his  lordship  or  his  lieutenant 
general ;  for  the  second  ofi^ense  to  forfeit  ten  pounds,  or  in  de- 
fault of  payment,  to  be  publicly  and  severely  whipped  and  im- 
prisoned as  before  directed  ;  and  for  the  third  offense,  to  forfeit 
lands  and  goods,  and  be  forever  banished  out  of  the  province." 
See  Religious  Liberty  and  the  Baptists,  by  C  C.  Bitting, 
D.D.,  pages  38  and  39. 

A  subsequent  part  of  the  same  law  says  :  "  Except  as  in  the 
act  as  before  declared  and  set  forth,  no  person  or  persons 
whatsoever  within  this  province  or  the  islands,  ports,  harbors, 
creeks  or  havens  thereunto  belonging,  professing  to  believe  in 
Jesus  Christ  shall  from  thenceforth  be  anyways  troubled,  mo- 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  167 

Jested,  or  discountenanced  for  or  in  respect  of  his  or  her 
religfon,  nor  in  the  free  exercise  thereof  within  this  province  or 
in  the  islands  thereunto  belonging,  nor  in  any  way  compelled 
to  the  belief  or  exercise  of  any  other  religion  against  his  or  her 
consent."  The  penalty  for  breaking  this  enactment  is  "  treble 
damages  to  the  party  wronged,"  and  a  fine  of  twenty  pounds, 
and  in  case  of  failure  to  pay  the  fine,  a  severe  whipping  and 
imprisonment  at  the  pleasure  of  the  proprietary  or  his  gover- 
nor."    See  Baptist  Encylcopedia,  page  697. 

Dr.  A.  H.  Strong,  of  Rochester  says,  with  reference  to  this 
act :  "  Liberal  as  Lord  Baltimore  was,  and  eager  as  he  was 
to  provide  equal  privileges  with  members  of  the  Church  of 
England,  it  never  occured  to  him  that  a  wider  liberty  than 
this  was  possible.  Toleration  extended  only  to  such  as  pro- 
fessed to  believe  in  Christ.  There  was  no  toleration  contem- 
plated for  Socinians  or  infidels.  The  'Act  concerning  Religion  ' 
passed  by  the  Maryland  Assembly  in  1649  was  simply  the 
writing  out  of  Lord  Baltimore's  unwritten  law,  and  it  expressed 
the  meaning  of  the  charter  of  1632.  It  declares  simply  that 
'  no  person  professing  to  believe  in  Christ  shall  be  in  any  way 
troubled  or  molested,'  and  that  there  may  be  no  mistake,  it 
provides  that  blasphemy,  and  the  denial  of  the  trinity  or  of 
Christ's  divinity,  shall  be  punishable  with  death.  Under  that 
charter  interpreted  as  it  was  by  the  act  of  1649,  an  act  for 
which  Maryland  has  been  too  generously  called  '  the  land 
sanctuary,'  a  Quaker  missionaay  only  ten  years  later,  or  in 
1659  received  a  sentence  of  banishment.''  (State  and  Church 
in  1472  and  1892  ;  pages  38  and  39.) 

These  views  are  confirmed  by  Windsor.  In  referring  to 
the  same  law,  Windsor  says:  "That  for  reproachful  words 
concerning  the  Virgin  Mary  or  the  apostles,  the  penalty  was 
fine,  imprisonment,  or  whipping  ;  while  blasphemy  or  denial 
of  the  Trinity,  or  of  the  divinity  of  Christ  was  punishable  with 
death."  See  Windsor's  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  the 
United  States,  Vol.  Ill,  pages  534  and  535. 

Again  he  says:  A  temporary  exception  to  the  universal  re- 
ligious toleration  which  was  a  capital  principle  of  government 
in  Maryland  occurred  in  the  case  of  the  Quakers.  The  first 
Quaker  missionaries  appeared  in  Maryland  in  1657.  ^"  J'^^X 
23,  1659,  under  Fendell's  admmistration  an  order  was  passed 
directing  that  if  any  of  the  vagabonds  and  idle  persons  known 
by  the  name  of  Quakers  should  come  to  the  province  the 
justice  of  the  peace  should  arrest  them  and  cause  them  to  be 


l68  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

whipped  from  constable  to  constable  out  of  the  province. 
The  most  active  Quaker  received  a  sentence  of  banishment." 
See  pages  545  and  546  of  the  work  referred  to  above. 

On  page  562  he  quotes  from  Hildreth's  History  of  the 
United  States  :  "There  is  not  the  least  tint  of  any  toleration 
in  religion,  not  authorized  in  England."  And  from  Lodcre's 
short  history  of  the  English  colonies,  page  97,  we  read  :  "There 
is  no  toleration  about  the  Maryland  charter."  Such  was  the 
character  of  the  celebrated  toleration  law  of  Lord  Baltimore. 
Those  who  denied  the  Trinity,  all  Jews,  Unitarians,  and  Ary- 
ans were  put  to  death.  The  gallows  was  the  liberty  it  gave 
them.  Respect  for  the  Virgin  Mary  was  encouraged  by  fines 
and  whippings  and  in  obstinate  cases  by  the  loss  of  all  pro- 
perty, and  by  exile."     See  Baptist  Encyclopedia,  page  697. 

Let  us  now  look  at  the  laws  established  by  Roger  Williams 
in  Rhode  Island. 

Roger  Williams  arrived  at  Boston  on  the  ship,  Lyon,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1 63 1.  On  his  arrival  he  was  invited  to  settle  in 
Boston.  "He  declined  the  invitation,  because,  as  he  said,  he 
'  durst  not  officiate  to  an  unseparated  people,'  as  upon  examina- 
tion and  conference  he  found  them  to  be.  The  church  at 
Salem  called  him  to  succeed  Mr.  Higginson.  The  Salem 
church  was  the  oldest  in  the  colony,  havmg  been  organized 
August  6,  1629,  on  principles  of  perfect  and  entire  independence 
of  every  other  ecclesiastical  body."  See  "  New  England  Bap- 
tists," by  Dr.  Burrage. 

This  church  was  more  in  harmony  with  the  principles  of 
Williams,  hence  he  accepted  their  invitation  ;  yet  the  authori- 
ties at  Boston  protested  against  the  action  of  the  Salem  church, 
and  for  about  three  years  they  persecuted  him  so  that  he  was 
banished  from  the  colonies,  October  19,  1635,  on  account  of 
his  advocacy  of  the  principle  of  freedom. 

It  seems  that  some  have  contended  that  the  banishment  of 
Roger  Williams  was  caused  simply  by  .political  reasons,  but 
the  following  fact  as  given  by  the  Rev.  David  B.  Ford  in  his 
"  New  England  Struggles  for  Religious  Freedom,"  p.p.  42,  43, 
removes  this  idea  : — 

"  March  31st,  1676,  the  Council  of  Massachusetts  revoked, 
partially  at  least,  Roger  Williams  sentence  of  banishment  in 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  169 

these,  words  : — '  Whereas  Mr.  Roger  WilHams  stands  at  present 
under  a  sentence  of  restraint  from  coming  into  this  colony,  yet 
considering  how  readyly  and  freely  at  all  tymes  he  hath  served 
the  English  interest  in  this  tyme  of  war  with  the  Indians,  and 
manifested  his  particular  respects  to  the  authority  of  this  colony 
in  several  services  desired  of  him,  and  further  understanding 
how  by  the  last  assault  upon  Providence,  his  house  is  burned, 
and  himself  in  his  old  age  is  reduced  to  an  uncomfortable  and 
disabled  state — out  of  compassion  to  him  in  this  condition,  the 
Council  does  order  and  declare  that  if  the  sayd  Mr.  Williams 
shall  see  cause  and  desire  it,  he  shall  have  liberty  to  repayre 
into  any  of  our  towns  for  his  security  and  comfortable  abode 
during  these  public  troubles,  he  behaving  himself  peaceably 
and  inoffensively,  and  not  disseminating  and  venting  any  of  his 
different  opinions  in  matters  of  religion  to  the  dissatisfaction 
of  any."     (Vol.  X.,  p.  233  of  the  Mass-Archives.) 

Had  our  Baptist  historians  been  aware  of  the  above  reference 
to  "  matters  of  religion  "  in  the  revoke  sentence  of  banishment, 
they  would  have  found  it  much  easier  answering  Dr  H.  M. 
Dexter,  who  contended  that  Williams'  "exclusion  from  the 
colon}^  took  place  for  reasons  purely  political,  and  having  no 
relation  to  his  notions  upon  toleration."  ("As  to  Roger 
Williams,  '  p.  74.,  Ford  ) 

Thus  it  is  evident  that  he  was  banished  on  account  of  his 
religious  principles. 

Hence  early  in  1636,  we  find  Roger  Williams  and  a  few 
friends  at  Providence.  Rhode  Island,  laying  the  foundations  of 
the  Rhode  Island  settlement.  Now,  what  kind  of  laws  did 
they  enact  for  themselves,  and  for  all  others  ?  The  best  answer 
to  this  is  found  in  the  colonial  records. 

"  The  colonial  records  of  Rhode  Island  were  published  by 
order  of  the  legislature  in  1856,  and  in  them  we  read  that 
Roger  Williams  landed  on  the  site  of  Providence  in  the  month 
of  May  or  early  in  June,  1636,  and  that  he  and  his  friends  on 
their  '  first  coming  together  did  make  an  order  that  no  man  hi 
molested  for  his  conscience,'  even  though  he  was  an  Israelite, 
a  Unitarian  or  an  Infidel.  In  August,  1636,  the  celebrated 
compact  was  entered  into  and  signed,  at  Providence  by  which 
its  people  '  subjected  themselves  in  active  and  passive  obedi- 
ence to  all  such  orders  or  agreements  as  shall  be  made  for  pub- 
lic good  of  the  body  in  an  orderly  way  by  the  major  consent  of 
the  present  inhabitants,   masters  of  families  incorporated  to- 


lyO  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

gether  in  a  town  fellowship  and  others  whom  they  shall  admit 
in  civil  things  only."  No  laws  for  favouring  or  prohibiting 
any  form  of  religion  were  to  be  enacted.  On  the  twenty-first 
day  of  May,  1637,  Joshua  Vernin  was  sentenced  to  lose  the 
right  of  voting  "  for  restraining  the  liberty  of  conscience"  of 
his  wife.  On  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  May,  1640,  among 
certain  proposals  agreed  upon  at  Providence  to  form  a  govern- 
ment these  words  are  found  :  "  We  agree  as  formerly  have 
been  the  liberties  of  the  town,  so  still  to  hold  forth  liberty 
of  conscience." 

The  first  charter  of  Rhode  Island  was  signed  March  14,  1643, 
and  adopted  by  the  colony  in  May,  1647.  Arnold,  in  his  "  His- 
tory of  Rhode  Island,"  truly  says:  "  The  use  of  the  word  civil 
is  everywhere  prefixed  (in  the  charter)  to  the  terms  '  govern- 
ment,' or  'laws,'  wherever  they  occur  ...  to  restrict  the 
operation  of  the  charter  to  purely  political  cancerns.  In  this 
apparent  restriction  there  lay  concealed  a  boon  of  freedom, 
such  as  man  had  never  known  before.  They  (Rhode  Island- 
ers) held  themselves  accountable  to  God  alone  for  their  reli- 
gious creed,  and  no  earthly  power  could  bestow  on  them  a  right 
which  they  held  from  heaven  ...  At  their  own  request 
their  powers  were  limited  to  '  civil  matters.'  " 

The  first  instrument  of  government  m  the  world's  history, 
disavowing  all  right  to  make  laws  for  or  against  religion,  and 
thereby  giving  the  wildest  liberty,  was  adopted  in  Rhode 
Island  two  years  before  Lord  Baltimore's  act  was  passed  in 
Maryland.  The  Baptists  of  Rhode  Island  had  no  laws  upon 
religion,  the  greatest  infidel  of  the  human  race  carried  no 
legal  stigma  in  that  colony  for  his  opinions  from  its  first  settle- 
ment by  our  Baptist  fathers  ;  it  had  the  only  government  in 
the  world  where  religion  is  entirely  free.  Maryland's  toleration 
was  not  freedom  of  conscience,  except  for  certain  classes,  and 
as  poor  as  it  was,  Rhode  Island  gave  full  liberty  thirteen  years 
sooner."     See  Baptist  Encyclopedia,  pages  697,  698. 

Thus  you  see  the  difference  between  the  two  laws.  Is  it  any 
wonder  that  Bancroft  says  that  "  Roger  Williams  was  the  first 
in  modern  Christendom  to  assert  in  its  plentitude  the  doctrine 
of  the  liberty  of  conscience,  the  equality  of  opinions  before  the 
law,  and  in  its  defence,  he  was  the  harbinger  of  Milton,  the 
precursor  and  superior  of  Jeremy  Taylor."  (See  B's  His.  of 
U.S.,  Vol.  I,  page  376.)  Bancroft  says  also  that  "  Freedom  of 
conscience,  the  unlimited  freedom  of  mind  was  from  the  first 
the  trophy  of  the  Baptists." 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  lyi 

II.  Freedom  in  the   Post  Colonial  Era. 

During  the  colonial  period  the  colonies  were  subject  to  Eng- 
land, but  in  the  course  of  time  they  felt  that  they  must  be  their 
own  rulers.  The  first  official  organ  of  colonial  defence  was 
what  is  known  as — "The  Continental  Corgress  of  1774," 
which  met  in  Philadelphia.  Delegates  from  twelve  colonies 
attended  that  Congress  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  of  Massacliusetts 
was  urged  by  Revs.  J.  Manning,  John  Gano,  William  Van 
Horn,  and  Hezekiali  Smith  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  and  see  if 
something  could  not  be  done  to  secure  our  religious  liberty. 
There  was  a  meeting  of  the  chief  members  of  Congress:  — 
Thomas  Cushing,  Samuel  and  John  Adams,  R.  T.  Paine, 
James  Kinsey,  Stephen  Hopkins,  Samuel  Ward,  J  Galloway, 
the  Mayor,  and  the  foremost"  Friends  of  the  City,"  and  the 
Baptists,  Messrs.  Backus,  Samuel  Jones,  William  Rogers,  and 
Morgan  Edwards.  The  last  three  were  pastors  in  Philadelphia 
of  Baptist  churches.  A  principal  speaker  was  Israel  Pember- 
ton  a  Quaker.  John  Adams  accused  him  of  Jesuitism. 
"  Then  "  says  a  record  of  the  meeting  '•  Up  rose  Israel 
Pemberton"  'John,  John,'  he  said  "dost  thou  not  know  when 
Friends  were  hung  in  thy  colony,  when  Baptists  were  hung 
and  whipped,  and  finally  when  Edward  Shippen  a  great  mer- 
chant of  Boston  was  publicly  whipped  because  he  would  not 
subscribe  to  the  belief  of  thee  and  thy  fathers,  and  was  driven 
to  the  colony  of  which  he  afterwards  became  governor."  In 
the  midst  of  the  discussion,  John  Adams  exclaimed — "  The 
Baptists  might  as  well  expect  a  change  in  the  solar  system,  as 
to  expect  that  the  Massachussetts  authorities  would  give  up 
their  establishment." — see  Hist  New  Jersey  Bapt.  by  T.  G. 
Griffith.) 

This  shows  the  condition  of  things  in  1774.  I  wonder  how 
would  John  Adams  feel  in  1899  had  he  been  living  in  Boston 
when  the  Massachusetts  Legislature  rescinded  everything  re- 
specting Roger  Williams'  banishment.  The  solar  system  re- 
mains, but  principles  grow  and  bear  fruit. 

On  July  4,  1776,  that  Congress  of  deputies  of  the  states  with- 
out any  special  authority  issued  the  Declaration  of  Indepeii- 
dence,  whereby  the  colonies  assumed  to  be  free  and  indepen- 
dent states.  On  the  fifteenth  of  November  the  same  Congress 
formulated  the  articles  of  confederation  which  vested  in  the 
congress  the  direction  of  general  affairs,  but  inasmuch  as  the 
theory  of  their  revolution  was  opposition  to  a  strong  central 
government,  very  few  and  feeble  were   the  powers  conferred 


172  REMINSISCENCE — AMERICA. 

upon  tliis  Congress."  Yet,  though  they  had  thus  issued  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  they  had  to  pass  through  years 
of  an  awful  war — the  Revolutionary  war — before  they  were 
actually  as  well  as  declaratively  free.  The  preliminary  treaty 
of  peace  acknowledging  the  independence  of  the  colonies  was 
signed  by  the  plenipotentiaries  of  England  in  1783.  With 
peace  came  the  hour  of  construction.  March  4,  1789,  the  new 
government  went  into  operation,  with  George  Washington  as 
its  president,  after  having  adopted  its  constitution."  See 
Report  of  Baptist  Union  at  Baltimore,  1895,  pages  in,  112.) 
But  by  reading  that  constitution  you  will  see  that  nothing  had 
been  done  by  Congress  to  secure  religious  liberty.  Hence  in 
August,  1789,  a  committee  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  Virginia 
presented  an  address  to  General  Washington,  in  which  they 
expressed  a  high  regard  for  him,  but  "  a  fear  that  our  religious 
rights  were  not  well  secured  in  our  new  constitution  of 
Government." 

Inasmuch  as  these  letters  are  historic,  it  will  be  a  matter  of 
interest  to  read  them  : — 

LETTER  TO  PRESIDENT  WASHINGTON. 

Sir, — Among  the  many  shouts  of  congratulation  that  you 
receive  from  cities,  societies,  states,  and  the  w^hole  world,  we 
wish  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  universal  chorus  by  express- 
ing our  great  satisfaction  in  your  appointment  to  the  first  office 
in  the  nation.  When  America  on  a  former  occasion  was  re- 
duced to  the  necessity  of  appealing  to  arms  to  defend  her 
natural  and  civil  rights,  a  Washington  was  found  fully  adequate 
to  the  exigencies  of  the  dangerous  attempt,  who  by  the  philan- 
thropy of  his  heart,  and  prudence  of  his  head,  led  forth  her 
untutored  troops  into  the  field  of  battle,  and  by  the  skilfulness 
of  his  hands  baffled  the  projects  of  the  insulting  foe,  and  pointed 
out  the  road  even  at  time  when  the  energy  of  the  cabinet 
was  not  sufficient  to  bring  into  action  the  natural  aid  of  the  con- 
federation from  its  respective  sources.  The  grand  object  being 
obtained,  the  independence  of  the  states  acknowledged,  free 
from  ambition  and  devoid  of  a  thirst  for  blood,  our  hero  re- 
turned with  those  he  commanded,  and  laid  down  his  sword  at 
the  feet  of  those  who  gave  it.  "  Such  example  to  the  world 
is  new." 

Like  other  nations  we  experience  that  it  requires  as  great 
valour  and  wisdom  to  make  an  advantage  of  a  conquest  as  to 
gain   one.     The    want    of  efficacy   in    the    confederation,  the 


REMINISCENCES AMERICA.  I7J 

redundacy  of  laws,  and  their  partial  administration  in  the  states 
called  aloud  for  a  new  arrangement  of  our  system.  The  wis- 
dom of  the  states  for  that  purpose  was  collected  in  a  grand 
convention  over  which  you,  sir,  had  the  honour  to  preside.  A 
national  government  in  all  its  parts  was  recommended  as  the 
only  preservative  of  the  union,  which  plan  of  government  is 
now  actually  in  'operation. 

When  the  constitution  first  made  its  appearance  in  Virginia, 
we  as  a  society  had  unusual  strugglings  of  mind,  fearing  that 
the  liberty  of  conscience  (dearer  to  us  than  property  and  life), 
was  not  sufficiently  secured.  Perhaps  our  jealouses  were 
heightened  on  account  of  the  usage  we  received  in  Vir- 
ginia under  the  British  government,  when  mobs,  bonds,  fines, 
and  prisons  were  our  frequent  repast.  Convinced  on  the  one 
hand  that  without  an  effective  national  government  the  states 
would  fall  into  disunion,  and  all  the  consequent  evils  ;  on  the 
other  hand  it  was  feared  we  might  be  accessory  to  some  reli- 
gious oppression,  should  any  one  society  preponderate  all  the 
rest. 

But  amidst  all  the  inquietudes  of  mind,  our  consolation  arose 
from  this  consideration,  the  plan  must  be  good,  for  it  bears  the 
signature  of  a  tried,  trusty  friend  ;  and  if  religious  liberty  is 
rather  insecure  in  the  constitution,  "  the  administration  will 
certainly  prevent  all  oppression,  for  a  Washington  will  pre- 
side according  to  our  wishes  ;  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  union 
has  called  you,  sir,  from  your  beloved  retreat,  to  launch  forth 
again  into  the  faithless  seas  of  human  affairs  to  guide  the  helm 
of  the  states  May  that  Divine  munificence  which  covered 
your  head  in  battle,  make  you  yet  a  greater  lilessing  to  your 
admiring  country  in  time  of  peace.  Should  the  horrid  evils 
that  have  been  so  pestiverous  in  Asia  and  Europe,  faction,  am- 
bition, war,  perfidy,  fraud,  and  persecution  for  conscience  sake 
ever  approach  the  borders  of  our  happy  nation,  may  the  name 
and  administration  of  our  beloved  President,  like  the  radiant 
source  of  day,  scatter  al!  those  dark  clouds  from  the  Ainerican. 
hemisphere.  And  while  we  speak  freely  the  language  of  our 
own  hearts,  we  are  satisfied  that  we  express  the  sentiments  of 
our  brethren  whom  we  represent. 

The  very  name  of  Washington  is  music  in  our  ears,  and  al- 
though the  great  evil  in  the  state  is  the  want  of  mutual  confi- 
dence between  rulers  and  the  people,  yet  we  all  have  confidence 
in  the  President  of  the  states,  and  it  is  our  fervent  prayer  to 
Almighty  God  that  the  federal   government,   and  the  govern- 


174  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

ment  of  the  respective  states,  without  rivalship,  may  so  co- 
operate together  as  to  make  the  numerous  people,  over  w^hom 
you  preside,  the  happiest  nation  on  earth,  and  you,  sir,  the 
happiest  man,  in  seeing  the  people,  whom  by  the  smiles  of 
FiOvidence  you  saved  from  vassalage  by  your  martial  valour, 
and  made  wise  by  your  maxims,  sitting  securely  under  their 
vines  and  fig  trees,  enjoying  the  perfection  of  human  felicity. 

May  God  long  preserve  your  life  and  health  for  a  blessing 
to  the  world  in  general,  and  tlie  United  States  in  particular  ; 
and  when,  like  the  sun,  you  have  finished  your  course  of  great 
and  unparalleled  services,  and  you  go  the  way  of  all  the  earth, 
may  the  Divine  Being,  who  will  reward  every  man  according 
to  his  works,  grant  you  a  glorious  admission  into  his  everlast- 
ing kingdom  through  Jesus  Christ.  This,  great  sir,  is  the 
prayer  of  your  happ)'  admirers. 

By  order  of  the  Committee, 

Samuel   Harris,  Chairman. 
Reuben  Ford,  Clerk. 

It  is  said  that  the  above  letter  was  written  by  Elder  John 
Leland,  a  stalwart  of  religious  liberty. 


WASHINGTON'S  REPLY. 

To  the  General  Committee  representing  the  United  Baptist 
Churches  in  Virginia. 

Gentlemen  :  I  request  that  you  will  accept  my  best  acknow- 
ledgement for  your  congratulation  on  my  appointment  to  the 
first  office  in  the  nation.  The  kind  manner  in  which  you  men- 
tion my  past  conduct  equally  claims  the  expression  of  my  gra- 
titude. After  we  had  by  the  smiles  of  Divine  Providence  on 
our  exertions,  obtained  the  object  for  which  we  contended,  I 
retired  at  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  with  an  idea  that  my 
country  could  have  no  further  occasion  for  my  services,  and 
with  the  intention  of  never  entering  again  into  public  life. 
But  when  the  exigencies  of  my  country  seemed  to  require  me 
once  more  to  engage  in  public  affairs,  an  honest  conviction  of 
duty  superseded  my  former  resolution,  and  became  my  apology 
for  deviating  from  the  happy  plan  which  I  had  adopted.     If  I 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I75 

could  have  entertained  tlie  slightest  apprehension  that  the 
constitution  framed  in  the  convention  where  I  had  the  honour 
to  preside,  might  possibly  endanger  the  religious  rights  of  any 
ecclesiastical  society, certainly  I  would  have  never  have  placed 
my  signature  to  it ;  and  if  I  could  now  conceive  that  the  gen- 
eral government  might  e\'er  be  so  administered  as  to  render 
the  liberty  of  conscience  insecure,  I  beg  you  will  be  persuaded 
that  no  one  would  be  mere  zealous  than  myself  to  establish 
effectual  barriers  against  the  horrors  of  spiritual  tyranny,  and 
every  species  of  religious  persecution  ;  for,  you  doubtless  re- 
member, 1  have  often  expressed  my  sentiments  that  every  man 
conducting  himself  as  a  good  citizen,  and  being  accountable  to 
God  alone  for  his  religious  opinions,  ought  to  be  protected  in 
worshipping  the  Deity  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own 
conscience. 

While  I  recollect  with  satisfaction  that  the  religious  society 
of  which  you  are  members  have  been  throughout  America, 
uniformly  and  almost  unanimously  the  firm  friends  to  civil 
liberty,  and  the  persevering  promoters  of  our  glorious  revela- 
tion, I  cannot  hesitate  to  believe  that  they  will  be  faithful  sup- 
porters of  a  free,  and  yet  efficient  general  government.  Under 
this  pleasing  expectation  I  rejoice  to  assure  then:  that  they 
may  rely  upon  my  best  wishes  and  endeavours  to  advance  their 
prosperity.  In  the  meantime  be  assured,  gentlemen,  that  I 
entertain  a  proper  sense  of  your  fer\'ent  supplication  to  God  for 
my  temporal  and  eternal  happiness. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

George  Washington. 


The  amendment  was  mtroduced  to  Congress  by  James 
Madison,  whom  the  liaptists  where  the  chief  instruments  in 
electing,  and  was  adopted  in  1789.      It  reads  as  follows  : — 

"  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establish- 
ment of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof,  cr 
abridging  the  freedom  of  speech  or  of  the  press,  or  of  the  rights 
of  the  people  peaceably  to  assemble  and  to  petition  the  govern- 
ment for  a  redress  of  grievances." 

Dr.  Cathcart  says  in  his  "  Centenial  Offering,"  p.  loi  : — 
"  Denominationally  no  community  asked   for  this  change  in 


1^6  REMINISCENCES AMERICA. 

the  constitution  but  the  Baptists.  The  Quakers  would  probably 
have  petitioned  for  it  if  they  had  thought  of  it,  but  they  did 
not.  John  Adams  and  the  Congregationalists  did  not  desire  it. 
The  Episcopalians  did  not  wish  for  it.  It  went  too  far  for 
niost  Presbyterians  in  revolutionary  times,  or  in  our  own  days, 
when  we  hear  so  much  about  putting  the  Divine  name  in  the 
constitution.  The  Baptists  asked  it  through  Washington. 
The  request  commended  itself  to  his  judgment,  and  to  the  gen- 
erous soul  of  Madison,  and  to  the  Baptists  beyond  doubt  of  en- 
grafting its  best  article  on  the  noblest  constitution  ever  framed 
for  the  government  of  mankind." 

Dr.  James  in  "Struggles,"  p,  167-8,  says  that  "it  was  adop- 
ted on  the  25th  of  Sept.,  1789,  and  there  it  stands  as  a  monu- 
ment to  Baptist  watchfulness  and  unswerving  loyalty  to 
liberty." 

Yet  notwithstanding  the  adoption  of  the  above  principles, 
the  curse  of  slavery  still  existed  in  the  land,  so  that  the  great 
battle  for  the  abolishment  of  this  great  evil  was  yet  to  be  fought. 
One  of  the  great  heroes  in  this  great  conflict  in  the  eighteenth 
century  was  the  immortal  Morgan  John  Rhys  of  Wales. 
He  landed  in  America  October  12th,  1794,  and  until  his  death 
which  occurred  at  Somerset,  Pennsylvania,  Dec.  7,  1804,  he 
fought  this  evil  both  by  his  pen  and  tongue.  The  real  ambi- 
tion and  spirit  of  his  life  may  be  seen  in  the  closing  sentences 
of  his  remarkable  oration  on  "  Liberty  "  delivered  at  Green- 
ville, north -Vv'est  of  Ohio,  July  4th,  1795,  to  the  American 
army  and  Gen.  A.  Wayne — 

"  Citizens  and  soldiers  of  America,  sons  of  liberty,  it  is  you 
I  address.  Banish  from  your  land  the  remains  of  slavery. 
Be  consistent  with  your  congregressional  declaration  of  rights 
and  you  will  be  happy.  Remember  there  never  was,  or  will  be 
a  period  when  justice  should  not  be  done.  Do  what  is  just 
and  leave  the  event  with  God.  Justice,  is  the  pillar  that  holds 
up  the  whole  fabric  of  human  societ}-,  and  mercy  is  the  genial 
ray  which  cheers  and  warms  the  habitations  of  man.  The 
perfection  of  our  social  character  consists  in  properly  temper- 
ing the  two  with  one  another,"  (see  the  Oration  in  full  in  "The 
Life  of  Morgan  John  Rhys  "  by  the  writer.) 

Such  were  the  principles  of  this  great  Welsh  Baptist 
preacher.  After  his  death  the  battle  was  carried  on  by  such 
men  as  Lloyd  Garrison,  Beecher,  dec,  until  God  raised  the  im- 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I77 

mortal  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  Moses  of  the  Slaves,  and  the 
author  of  tlie  declaration  of  their  emancipation.  This  was 
the  practical  culmination  of  the  principles  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty  in  America. 

Thus  as  we  have  traced  the  "  Origm  and  Development  of 
Civil  and  Religious  Freedom  in  America,"  we  see  that  the 
Baptists  have  been  the  leaders  in  the  work.  Dr.  Leonard 
Woolsey  Bacon  in  his  recent  able  "  History  of  Christianity  " 
says — "  So  far  as  this  work  was  a  work  of  intelligent  faith,  the 
chief  honour  of  it  must  be  given  to  the  Baptists.  Other  sects, 
notably  the  Presbyterians  had  been  energetic  in  demanding 
their  own  liberties ;  the  Friends  and  Baptists  agreed  in  de- 
manding liberty  of  conscience  and  worship,  and  equality 
before  the  law  for  all  alike.  But  the  active  labor  in  this  cause 
was  mainly  done  by  the  Baptists.  It  is  to  their  consistency 
and  constancy  in  the  warfare  against  the  privileges  of  the 
powerful  standmg  order  of  New  England  under  the  Mori- 
bunds  establishments  of  the  South  that  we  are  chiefly  indebt- 
ed for  the  final  triumph  in  this  country  of  that  principle  of  the 
separation  of  church  from  State  which  is  one  of  the  largest 
contributions  of  the  New  World  to  civilization  and  to  the 
Church  Universal."  (See  Hist,  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
Philadelphia,  p.  216.) 

Prof.  Gervinus  m  his  "  Introduction  to  the  History  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century  "  says  "  Roger  Williams  founded  in  1636 
a  small  new  society  in  Rhode  Island  upon  the  principles  of 
entire  liberty  of  conscience,  and  the  uncontrolled  power  of  the 
majority  in  secular  affairs.  The  theories  of  freedom  in  church 
and  State  taught  in  the  schools  of  philosophy  of  Europe  were 
here  brought  into  practice  in  the  government  of  a  small  com- 
munity. It  was  prophesied  that  the  Democratic  attempts  to 
obtain  universal  suffrage,  a  general  elective  franchise,  annual 
parliaments,  entire  religious  freedom,  and  the  Miltonian  right 
schism  would  be  of  short  duration.  But  these  institutions 
have  not  only  maintained  themselves  here,  but  have  spread 
over  the  whole  union.  They  have  superseded  the  aristocratic 
commencements  of  Carolina  and  New  York,  the  high  church 
party  in  Virginia,  the  theocracy  in  Massachusetts,  and  the 
monarchy  throughout  America.  They  have  given  laws  to  one 
quarter  of  the  globe,  and  dreaded  for  their  influence  they  stand 
in  the  back-ground  of  every  democratic  struggle  in  Europe." 
("  Roger  Williams"  by  Oscar  Strause.) 

Well  did  Morgan  John  Rhys  say  that  the  New  World  had  set 


lyS  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

the  Old  in  motion.  May  this  liberty  be  used  by  us,  not  for  sel- 
fish and  carnal  purposes,  but  to  seek  for  that  true  freedom — 
viz.  freedom  from  sin  through  Jesus  Christ. 

Note — The  above  paper  was  read  at  the  Baptist  Ministers'  Confe- 
rence at  the  Penn  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  Scranton,  Pa., 
Monday  morning.  May  29th,  1905.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
was  passed  for  it,  and  a  request  for  its  pubhcation. 


NORTHEASTERN   PENNSYLVANIA. 


Ministers'  Conference  of  Scranton  and  Vicinity, 


"One  of  the  ablest  papers  to  which  the  Conference  has  ever 
listened  was  the  historical  review  given  by  request  by  Rev. 
John  T.  Griffith,  D.D.,  of  Edwardsville,  of  the  "Origin  and 
development  of  Civil  and  Religious  Freedom  in  America." 

He  showed  very  clearly  that  the  claim  of  the  Roman 
Catholics  that  Lord  Baltimore  had  granted  religious  toleration 
in  Maryland,  in  anything  like  the  sense  in  which  it  is  guaran- 
ted  by  the  constitution,  was  unfoimded.  Many  of  the  laws 
were  very  severe  against  certain  sectaries,  as  much  so  as  those 
of  Massachussetts  The  complete  toleration  of  Providence 
plantation,  under  the  leadership  of  Roger  Williams,  antedated 
the  partial  toleration  of  Maryland  by  thirteen  years.  The 
Baptists  were  the  pioneers  in  seeking  complete  religious  toler- 
ation for  all.  The  Presbyterians  in  Virginia,  sought  it  only 
for  themselves.  The  banishment  of  Roger  Williams  was  not 
on  political  grounds,  as  some  claim,  but  was  because  of 
religion,  and  Dr.  Griffith  quoted  a  little  noticed  clause  in  the 
act  of  Massachusetts  which  granted  him  freedom  to  return  in 
his  later  years,  which  showed  that  he  was  not  to  teach  reli- 
gion in  the  colony  if  he  returned.  It  was  a  proud  day  for 
Baptists  when,  in  our  own  day,  Massachusetts  wiped  from  her 
records  every  reference  to  the  banishment  of  Roger 
Williams. 

He  read  some  interesting  correspondence  between  President 
Washington  and  a  committee  of  Baptists  of  Virginia,  in  which 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I79 

the  latter  expressed  their  expectation  and  plea  that  under  the 
Constitution  and  the  guidance  of  Washington  complete  reli- 
gious freedom  would  be  guaranteed,  and  Washington'^  reply, 
which  was  decided  in  assuring  them  that  it  would  be  secure. 
It  was  the  influence  of  the  Baptists  through  James  Madison, 
which,  later,  secured  the  adoption  of  the  amendment  to  the 
Constitution  distinctly  prohibiting  any  establishment  of  reli- 
gion by  the  government.  To  the  Baptists  with  their  uniform  and 
consistent  attitude  in  favor  of  religious  freedom,  and  to  the  Bap- 
tists alone,  do  we  owe  the  general  passing  away  in  the  United 
States,  of  the  idea  of  uniting  Church  and  State,  notwithstand- 
ing the  "  covenanter"  influence  which  still  seeks  to  put  the 
name  of  God  in  the  constitution.  The  influence  of  the  Bap- 
tists against  negro  slavery  was  mentioned.  Among  the  first  to 
preach  and  agitate  against  slavery  was  a  well  known  Baptist 
preacher  from  Wales,  m  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  the  position  of  the  Northern  Baptists  was  pro- 
nounced in  the  agitation  against  slavery.  Dr.  Griffith  might 
have  added  that  the  mother  of  Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  Bap- 
tist. He  spoke  of  the  constant  influence  in  behalf  of  all  free- 
dom of  the  Welsh  Baptists  in  America. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  Dr.  Griffith  for  his 
paper,  and  he  was  made  the  guest  of  the  Conference  at 
dinner.  J.S.W. 

(Rev.  J.  S.  Wrightnour,  D.D.,  Pastor  of   the   first    Baptist  Church 
Scranton,  Pa.     "  The  Baptist  Commonwealth,"  June  8th,  1905.) 


-♦<->H<i>— 


(T) 


EARLY   RELIGIOUS    MOVEMENTS    IN    THE 
WYOMING   VALLEY. 

Between    1760    and    1830. 


Lord  Macaulay  has  somewhere  written,  "A  people  which 
takes  no  pride  in  the  noble  achievements  of  remote  ances- 
tors will  never  achieve  anything  worthy  to  be  remembered 
with  pride  by  remote  descendants." 

Another  writer  has  said  :  "  He  who  studies  history,  lives 
twice ;  he  lives  in  imagination  in  the  ages  that  preceded 
him  as  well  as  in  that  in  which  his  own  frail  life  is  fast  eb- 
bing away.  We  are  making  history,  and  this  thought 
should  inspire  us  so  to  live  and  act  that  to  others  who  may 
read  our  history  in  future  generations  it  may  appear  that 
we  served  our  generation  both  according  to  the  will  of  God 
as  well  as  to  the  best  of  our  ability."  (Wheelock  H.  Parm- 
ly,  D.D.j. 

In  directing  your  attention  to  the  early  religious  move- 
ments in  the  Wyoming  Valley  from  1760  to  1830,  it  is  proper 
to  state  that  there  had  been  religious  efforts  in  the  above 
valley  prior  to  1760  among  the  Indians  by  the  Moravian 
missionaries  and  others. 

It  is  claimed  that  Count  Zinzendorf  was  the  first  white 
man  to  look  upon  Wyoming,  but  Dr.  F.  C.  Johnson  of 
Wilkes-Barre  states  that  this  is  an  error.  The  region  had 
been  penetrated  by  traders  and  probably   French  explorers 


REMINISCENCES AMERICA.  151 

more  than  a  century  earlier.  Certain  it  is  that  Conrad 
Weiser,  the  government  interpreter,  records  that  he  passed 
through  Wyoming  in  1737,  while  returning  to  Philadelphia 
from  a  journey  to  the  Onondaga  country,  New  York,  and 
that  he  found  Dutch  traders.  A  year  before  Zinzendorf's 
visit  a  Congregationalist  minister  penetrated  this  region, 
though  his  stay  was  short.  This  was  the  Rev.  John  Sargent, 
who  visited  the  Indians  June  3,  1741.  He  was  a  graduate 
of  Yale  and  came  from  the  Indian  school  at  Stockbridge, 
Mass.  In  a  letter  dated  June  23,  1741,  he  writes:  "I  am 
just  returned  from  Susquehanna,  where  I  have  been  to  open 
the  way  for  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  among  tlie 
Shawanese."  Sargent  was  kindly  received,  but  the  Indians 
refused  to  accept  Christianity,  and  he  returned  discouraged, 
pitying"  llieir  ignorance  and  praying  God  to  open  their  eyes. 

But  it  IS  to  the  Moravians  belongs  the  honor  of  having 
made  the  most  protracted  efforts  to  evangelize  the  Indians  in 
these  regions.  Zinzendorf  visited  the  valley  in  1742.  When 
the  Moravians  first  visited  the  valley  in  1742,  its  Indian 
residents  were  Delawares,  Shawanese,  Nanticokes,  Mohi- 
cans, and  Wanamese,  all  of  whom  were  vassals  of  the 
Iroquois  by  virtue  of  conquest. 

The  earliest  to  occupy  Wyoming  Valley  so  far  as  appears 
were  the  Shawanese,  whom  Conrad  Weiser  found  in  1739. 
In  1738,  when  about  five  Imndred  in  number,  the  Iroquois, 
i.e.,  the  Six  Nations,  ordered  them  to  move  to  Ohio,  and 
their  empty  cabins  at  Wyoming  were  taken  by  another 
contingent  of  Shawanese,  who  \vere  transferred  from  near 
Lancaster.  They  had  for  their  leader  Kakowatchie,  and  it 
was  these  whom  Zinzendorf  found  at  Wyoming  in  1742. 
Besides  their  village  where  Plymouth  now  stands,  the 
Shawanese  had  another  between  Plymouth  and  Kingstcm, 
at  what  is  now  called  Blindtown.  They  had  also  a  village 
at  Fishing  Creek  and  Brier  Creek.  The  Wanamese  occupied 
the  elevated  land  two  miles  north  of  Wilkes-Barre,  named 
Jacob's  Plain,  for  tiieir  chief.  The  Mohicans  had  a  village 
near  Forty  Fort.  The  Nantic(~>kes  had  their  village  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  near  the  pre-ent  Nanticoke. 

After  Zinzendorf's  arrival  in  America  he  desired  the 
evangelization  of  the  Indians,  believing  that  they  were  the 
descendants  of  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel.     He  visited  them  at 


l82  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

different  places,  and  among  others,  Wyoming  Valley.  His 
-companions  were  Bohler  Mack  and  wife.  On  reaching 
Wvoming  Valley  they  were  joined  by  the  brethren  David 
Nitschman,  Anton  Seiffert  and  Jacob  Kohn,  who  had  come 
from  Bethlehem  by  way  of  Shamokin.  They  encamped  at 
the  Shawanese  village  near  Plymouth.  Zinzendorf  re- 
mained three  weeks  here,  but  the  Indians  gave  little  heed  to 
his  preaching.  They  were  very  hostile.  His  visit  residted, 
however,  in  being  followed  by  missionary  work  among  the 
Indians  in  this  section,  which  never  ceased  until  the  Indians 
yielded  to  the  encroachments  of  the  whites  and  disappeared 
from  the  valley.  Zinzendorf  was  seven  weeks  from  Bethle- 
hem. (See  "Count  Zinzendorf  and  the  Moravian  and  Indian 
Occupancy  of  the  Wyoming  Valley,  1742- 1763,"  by  Frederick 
C.  Johnson,  M.D.,  of  Wilkes-Barre,  read  before  the  Wyo- 
ming Historical  and  Geological  Society,  May  ig,  1894.  See 
also  "Spanger's  Life  of  Zinzendorf.") 

But  it  is  to  the  early  religious  movements  among  the 
white  people  of  the  Wyoming  Valley  that  we  are  to  call 
your  attention  chiefly  at  this  time. 


The  First  White  Settlers  and  the  Baptists. 

The  first  white  settlers  of  the  Wyoming  Valley  were  a 
company  of  Connecticut  colonists  who  came  here  in  the 
spring  of  1762  and  located  themselves  at  what  is  now  Mill 
Creek,  about  three  miles  north  of  Wilkes-Barre.  William 
Marsh  came  with  thenr.  He  was  their  preacher  and  teacher. 
In  the  fall  they  returned  east  to  spend  the  winter,  but  the 
next  spring  they  came  back  one  hundred  and  fifty  strong. 
Then  they  opened  settlements  at  Wilkes-Barre,  Kingston, 
Pittston,  and  Hanover.  October  15,  1763,  the  hostile  Dela- 
wares  moved  against  the  white  settlers,  killing  thirty  of 
them  at  Mill  Creek,  and  among  them  William  Marsh.  (See 
Hon.  Theodore  Hart's  paper.) 

From  this  we  see  that  William  Marsh  was  the  first  preacher 
among  the  whites  in  the  valley.  Who  was  he,  and  what 
was  he  ?  Morgan  Edwards,  the  Baptist  historian,  says : 
^'William  Marsh  was  born  in  Wrentham,  N.E.,  and  ordained 
among    the  '  Separate'    brancli    of    the  Congregationalists. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  183 

About  1749  he  with  sixteen  others  formed  an  independent 
churoh  at  Mansfield,  Conn.,  of  which  he  became  pastor. 
In  1 75 1  they  settled  in  the  north  part  of  Newtown,  Sussex 
County,  X.I.  where  previous  to  1756  Mr.  Marsh  and  eight 
others  originated  the  first  Baptist  church  organised  at 
Wantage."  (See  History  of  Luzerne  County,  1893, 
by    H.    C.     Bradsby,    p.     423.)  Mr.    Marsh    was     bap- 

tised at  Newton,  by  Elkanah  Fuller  in  1752.  This 
company  of  Separates  or  New  Lights  who  had 
emigrated  in  a  body  from  Mansfield  to  Newton, 
had  not  been  long  in  their  new  settlement  be- 
fore some  who  had  scruples  about  infant  baptism  at 
Mansfield j,  declared  openly  for  the  baptism  of  believers. 
But  now  the  same  question  puzzled  them  which  had  puzzled 
others  in  both  England  and  Germany,  viz.,  whether  baptism 
administered  by  an  unbaptised  person  is  valid,  for  they  con- 
sidered infant  baptism  as  a  nullity.  However,  they  resolved 
the  question  in  the  affirmative  from  the  consideration  of 
necessity.  Accordingly  Mr.  Marsh  was  baptised  by  Mr. 
Elkanah  Fuller  and  then  Mr.  Elkanah  Fuller  by  Mr.  Marsh. 
This  was  in  1752.  Next  year  were  baptised  by  Mr.  Marsh 
Roe,  Daniel  Roberts,  Hezekiah  Smith  and  wife,  and 
Rudolphus  Fuller.  These  eight  persons  were,  Nov.  14,  1756 
formed  into  a  Baptist  church  by  a  covenant  which  is  still 
extant. 

Morgan  Edwards  says  that  he  left  the  church  at  Newton 
in  1763  and  went  to  the  Wyoming,  where  he  was  murdered 
by  the  Indians.  One  if  not  more  of  the  men  w^horn  Marsh 
baptised  at  Newton  was  alive  when  Edwards  wrote.  (Mor- 
gan Edwards'  Materials,  \'ol.  II,  p.  85,  quoted  by  Dr. 
V'edder  in  History  of  Baptists  in  Middle  States,  p.  50).  Dr. 
David  Spencer  says,  ''  His  name  appears  in  the  minutes  of 
that  year  (1763)  as  pastor  of  the  Newtown  church.  New 
Jersey,  which  had  been  organised  Nov.  17,  1756,  and  which 
from  its  org  mization  had  been  connected  with  the  Phila- 
delphia Association,  and  that  he  was  on  a  missionary  visit 
to  the  Wyoming  Valley  when  he  was  massacred."  TItIs 
proves  that  William  Marsh  was  a  Baptist  minister  when  he 
came  to  Wyoming  in  1762.  His  name  appears  in  the 
minutes  of  the  old  Philadelphia  Association  for  1761,  '62 
and  '63  and  then  disappears.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that 
many  of  the  Separatists  of  Connecticut  became  Baptists 
after  the  Greai  Awakening  in  1740  under  Edwards  and 
W^hitfield,  and  this  accounts  for  the  action  of  Marsh  and  his 


184  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

associates  in  New  Jersey.     There  had  been  Baptists  in  Con- 
necticut since  1705. 

From  various  sources  we  learn  that  in  1769,  and  later 
with  the  return  of  the  whites  who  had  fled  from  the  valley 
after  the  Mill  Creek  massacre  and  the  killing"  of  March, 
other  ministers  of  different  denominations  visited  the  valley, 
and  among  them  was  a  man  named  John  Stafford,  a  Bap- 
tist licentiate  from  Dutchess  County,  New  York.  He  came 
here  in  the  year  1773  and  preached  in  the  township  of  King- 
ston. In  1776  Elkanah  Hohnes,  of  Kingwood,  N.J..,  also 
came  to  the  Wyoming  ^"alley  as  a  missionary.  He  came 
from  the  Philadelphia  Conference  and  preached  in  the 
valley  for  a  season.  The  records  of  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Goshen,  now  Warwick,  Orange  County,  New  York,  show 
that  brethren  at  Westmorland,  a  territory  including  all 
northeastern  Pennsylvania  in  the  counties  of  Luzerne, 
Lackawanna,  Wyoming,  Susquehanna,  and  Bradford,  with 
a  population  at  that  time  of  2,000,  "as  sheep  without  a 
shepherd,  "  desired  help. 

It  was  then  voted  to  send  Elder  James  Benedict  and  two 
other  brethren  to  answer  this  request.  Benedict  was  orig- 
inally from  Ridgefield,  Conn.,  but  moving  to  New  York, 
he  founded  and  became  the  pastor  of  the  Warwick  church, 
remaining  in  that  position,  too,  until  he  died.  The  records  of 
the  same  church  show  further  that  in  December  of  the  same 
year,  1776,  Elder  Benedict  did  as  directed,  and  finding 
twelve  of  their  own  members  with  fourteen  otheis  in  good 
standing,  he  baptized  six  others  and  they  constituted  the 
Pittston  Baptist  Church,  with  a  membership  of  thirty-two 
persons.  Soon  after  the  organizationof  the  Pittston  church, 
Elder  Benedict  returned  to  Warwick,  but  subsequently  came 
back  to  Pittston  and  built  a  cabin  near  the  stone  quarry  at 
the  foot  of  Parsonage  Street.  He  remained  until  after  the 
massacre  of  July  3,  1778,  and  then  returned  to  Warwick 
and  resumed  his  former  pastorate  there.  The  new  church 
was  nearly  broken  up  by  the  Indian  troubles. 

Dr.  David  Spencer  says  :  "  Isaac  Tripp,  one  of  the  mem- 
bers, a  young  man  eighteen  years  old,  born  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  a  relative  of  John  Tripp,  an  associate  of  Roger 
Williams  and  assistant  in  the  government  of  Rhode  Island, 
was  carried  captive  by  the  Indians  to  Canada.     On  the  way 


REMINISCENCES— AMERICA.  1 85 

his  sufferings  were  most  torturing.  At  Niagara  he  met  his 
cousi-n,  the  noted  Frances  Slocum,  who  had  also  been  made 
captive.  They  planned  to  escape.  This  was  disccnered 
and  they  were  separated,  never  to  meet  again  on  this  earth. 
He  was  sold  to  the  English,  forced  into  the  army,  and 
served  to  the  close  of  the  Revolution.  In  all  his  trials  he 
remained  true  to  his  Christian  faith.  After  the  war  he  got 
awa}'  and  returned  to  his  old  home  to  find  that  great  changes 
had  occurred.  He  died  in  1820  and  is  buried  in  the  grave- 
yard at  Clifford." 

Among  those  who  early  came  from  W'arwick  soon  after 
the  massacre  were  David  Mitchell  and  wife.  He  had  served 
creditably  through  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  in  1785,  set 
his  face  westward  to  find  a  home  in  a  newer  section  of  the 
country.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Patterson. 
She  was  born  in  Lichfield,  Conn.,  in  1759.  They  settled 
upon  the  flats  below  the  present  site  of  Coxton  upon  land 
belonging  to  John  Phillips,  one  of  the  most  active  of  the 
early  members  of  the  Pittston  church.  Mrs  Mitchell  sent 
for  Elder  James  Benedict  to  come  to  visit  her  when  he  was 
out  on  one  of  his  preaching  tours.  She  expressed  a  desire  to 
be  baptised,  and  after  hearing"  her  experience,  he  baptised 
her  in  the  Susquehanna.  The  names  of  the  six  constituent 
members  of  the  Pittston  church  who  had  been  baptized  by 
the  Rev.  James  Benedict  before  this  time  are  not  known,  so 
Mrs.  Mitchell's  baptism  is  the  first  authenticated  baptism  in 
this  section.  Mr.  Mitchell  died  soon  after  settling  here,  and 
Mrs.  Mitchell  became  the  wife  of  Abram  Frear  and  the 
grandmother  of  the  late  Dr.  George  Frear  of  Wilksbarre. 
(Hartj. 

August  7,  1786,  the  Pittston  church  was  reorganized 
with  thirty-two  members  under  the  labors  of 
the  Rev.  James  Finn.  Some  of  the  original  mem- 
bers previous  to  the  massacre  were  in  it  again.  It  united 
with  the  Philadelphia  Association  and  remained  in  that 
relationship  until  1801,  when  it  had  a  reported  membership 
of  134.  Mr.  Finn  Vv^as  born  at  Goshen  New  York,  where  he 
married  Miss  Hannah  Carr  April  26,  1783.  He  was  or- 
dained as  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Wantage  (New- 
town), N.J.,  where  he  remained  three  years,  and  then  came 
to  Pittston.  Here  he  toiled  seven  years,  when  he  removed 
to  Thornbottom,  on  the  Tunkhannock,  where  he   died   and 


l86  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

was  buried.     His  widow   died   in    Clifford,   aged   86  years^ 
at  the  home  of  her  son,  William  Finn. 

In  1792  a  man  named  Thomas  Smiley  was  baptized  at 
Plymouth  by  the  pastor  of  tlie  Pittston  Church  (doubtless 
the  above  James  Finn).  Mr.  Smiley  had  been  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier.  He  became  a  very  useful  Baptist  minister 
and  was  the  pioneer  of  the  Baptists  in  the  White  Deer  Creek 
Valley  and  the  Northumberland  Baptist  Association.  (Hart.) 

In  1792  another  Baptist  minister  appears  on  the  scene  in 
the  Wyoming  Valley,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Drake,  who  with  his 
family  settled  at  Exeter,  just  north  of  Pittston,  and  the  next 
year  he  organized  the  Baptist  church  there  in  the  new  and 
wilderness  location.  He  was  formerly  from  Windsor,  Conn, 
but  later  of  Canaan,  N.Y.,  where  in  twelve  years  as  a  result 
o'f  his  direction  and  labors  eight  churches  were  organised  in 
the  outlving  villages.  A  man  with  such  a  missionary  spirit 
was  suited  to  this  wildernesss.  Among  many  noted  men 
baptized  by  him  was  the  famous  Dr.  David  Dimock,  who 
was  born  in  Connecticut,  May  27,  1776,  and  born  again  at 
Exeter,  Pa.,  where  he  was  baptised  August  9th,  1801,  by 
Drake.  He  became  a  noted  preacher  in  this  section.  He 
was  a  pioneer  and  founder  of  churches  in  Luzerne,  Wyo- 
ming and  Susquehanna  counties.  He  was  also  a  success- 
ful physician  and  an  associateijudge  of  Susquehanna  County. 
He  died  at  Montrose  Sept.  27,  1858.  A  fine  picture  of  him 
may  be  seen  in  the  Wyoming  Geological  and  Historical 
Library,  Wilkes- Barre. 

Soon  after  the  departure  of  the  Rev.  James  Finn  from 
Pittston  in  1793,  he  was  succeeded  by  Elder  William  Bishop, 
who  had  just  settled  in  the  Lackawanna  Valley,  occupying 
a  hewn  log  cabin  on  a  small  clearing,  the  parsonage  lot,  as 
one  writer  has  said,  embracing  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres 
of  land  that  is  now  the  site  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
city  of  Scranton.  Elder  Bishop  was  ordained  in  England 
where  he  was  born  in  1750.  He  was  the  first  resident  min- 
ister of  any  denomination  in  the  Lackawanna  valley,  his 
field  of  labor  extending  from  Blakeley  to  Wilkes-Barre,  a 
distance  of  twenty-five  miles.  In  1804  he  resigned  and 
moved  to  New  Jersey.  He  subsequently  returned  to  his  old 
field  of  labor  and  died  in  Scott,  now  Lackawanna  County, 
loved  and  lamented,  March  22,  1816,  in  the  sixty-seventh 
vear  of  his  age. 


reminisc?:nces — America.  107 

The   Congpegational- Presbyterian 

Movement. 

The  next  movement  that  we  shall  notice  is  that  of  the 
Congregationalists  and  the  Presbyterians,  whose  centres  of 
operation  were  Wilkes-Barre  and  Kingston.  In  a  paper 
which  was  written  by  Mr.  Sheldon  Reynolds,  M.A.,  and  read 
at  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  F. 
B.  Hodge,  D.D.,  Feb.  25,  1894,  ^^^^  vvriter  states  that  "  the 
settlers  were  mainly  New  England  men,  excepting  in  the 
township  of  Hanover— these  came  from  Lancaster  County, 
Pennsylvania.  The  New  England  men  were  Congregation- 
alists and  Presbyterians,  and  those  from  Lancaster  County 
were  Presbyterians,  originally  from  the  north  of  Ireland." 
This  is  my  reason  for  saying  that  both  denominations  were 
one  in  this  movement.  Mr.  Reynolds  states  also  in  the  same 
paper  :  "  We  find  in  the  ancient  records  of  the  town  that  the 
town  meeting  composed  in  its  membership  of  the  proprie- 
tors and  settlers  of  the  district,  deliberated  upon  and  decided 
all  business  affecting  the  welfare  of  the  people,  whether  of 
secular  affairs  or  that  which  touched  their  religious  con- 
cerns. Tlie  minutes  of  these  meetings  often  contain  the 
action  taken  to  provide  for  the  defence  of  tlie  settlement 
against  the  imminent  attack  of  the  enemy,  and  in  the  next 
paragraph  record  the  amount  to  be  paid  the  'settled  minis- 
ter'  and  the  manner  in  which  his  salary  is  to  be  raised. 
'  Nov.,  1772.— Voted  that  those  who  belong  to  Hanover  shall 
mount  guard  in  ye  block  house  where  Captain  Stewart  now 
lives  and  those  that  live  at  Kingston  shall  come  over  and 
do  their  duty  in  ye  fort  at  Wilkes-Barre  until  they  shall  for- 
tify and  guard  themselves.  Voted,  that  Mr.  Christopher 
Ausry  be  appointed  to  collect  in  those  species  that  ye  pro- 
prietors and  settlers  have  signed  to  ye  support  of  ye  Rev. 
Mr.  Jacob  Johnson,  ye  year  expiring  May,  1773.  Voted,  that 
there  be  a  constant  guard  kept  at  the  fort  in  Wilkes-Barre 
of  twelve  men  and  that  they  keep  it  day  and  night,  and  that 
they  be  relieved  every  twenty-four  hours.  Voted,  that  the 
ferryman  be  obliged  to  carry  the  guard  across  on  free  cost ; 
and  the  people  across  on  Sundays  to  meeting  on  free  cost.'  " 

In  1753  the  Connecticut  people  organized  the  Connecti- 
cut Susquehanna  Company  ;  in  1754  they  purchased  the  In- 
dian title  at  Albany  Congress.  In  1768  the  Susquehanna 
Company  directed  its  committee  to  engage  the  services  of  a 


l88  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

pastor  for  "  carrying  on  religious  worship  and  services  ac- 
cording to  the  best  of  his  ability  in  a  \\  ilderness  country," 
who  would  accompany  the  second  colony  that  set  out  for 
Wyoming  in  1769. 

The  minister  was  to  receive  as  compensation  for  his  ser- 
vices "one  whole  share  or  right  in  the  purchase  and  such 
encouragement  as  others  were  entitled  to."  The  settlers 
were  to  provide  in  addition  "sustenance  according  to  the 
best  of  their  ability."  The  Rev.  George  Beckwith  (Jr.)  of 
Lynne,  Conn.,  was  selected  for  the  office,  and  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Susquehanna  Company  held  at  Hartford  Nov. 27,  1770, 
it  was  voted  that  the  Rev.  George  Beckwith  (Jr.)  of  Lyme, 
be  entitled  to  one  whole  share  in  the  Susquehanna  purchase 
in  part  pay  for  his  services  in  the  ministry  at  Wyoming  for 
the  benefits  of  the  settlers  there.  Other  provisions  in  gifts 
for  an  "  orthodox  gospel  ministry  "  and  for  educational  pur- 
poses were  made  by  the  company.  "  In  addition  to  this 
provision  it  was  stipulated  that  the  pastor  sliould  receive  a 
salary  which  was  raised  by  an  assessment  of  the  tax  rate. 
This  had  been  the  custom  in  the  mother  colony,  and  was 
continued  here  for  some  years.  This  manner  of  raising 
money  was  afterwards  given  up  owing  to  some  objections 
urged  against  it,  and  the  salary  of  the  minister  was  made 
up  by  voluntar\-  contributions,  though  the  right  to  lay  a  tax 
for  tiiis  purpose  was  not  questioned.  We  see  here  the  rem- 
nants of  cliurch  and  state.  Xotliing  of  this  seen  among  the 
Baptists  of  the  valley. 

Mr.  Beckwith  was  a  Congregational  minister,  the  son  of 
Rev.  George  Beckwith  of  Lyme,  who  was  a  minister  nf 
some  note,  a  graduate  and  trustee  of  Yale  College.  The 
son,  George  Beckwith  (Jr.),  was  born  about  1747,  and  was 
graduated  from  Yale  in  1766. 

He  remained  but  one  year  in  his  charge  at  Wyoming.  x-\fter 
leaving  this  place  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  a  Congrega- 
tional church  in  what  was  then  known  as  Litchfield  South 
Farms  (now  Morris),  Conn.  He  died  of  paralysis  in  Tri- 
angle, Broome  County,  N.Y.,  October,  1824. 

Such  is  the  account  given  of  the  beginning  of  the  Cong- 
regational-Presbyterian movement  in  the  Wyoming  Valley,. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  189 

which  was  begun  by    the    Susquehanna   Company  in    1770. 
(See  Reynolds'  pamphlet,  pp.  8-9.) 

Mr.  Beckwith  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Jacob  Johnson. 
?\Ir.  Johnson  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  in  1740.  When  he  was 
called  to  Wyoming  in  1772,  he  had  charge  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  of  the  North  society  of  Groton,  Conn., 
which  he  had  served  since  1749.  His  field  of  labor  here  in- 
cluded "  Lackawanna  on  the  north-east  and  Hanover  and 
Plymouth  on  the  west  and  south."  He  died  in  Wilkes- 
Barre  March  15,  1797,  being  nearly  77  years  of  age. 

From  this  we  see  that  the  labors  of  this  body  extended  to 
all  points  of  the  valley.  Thus  the  church  here  continued 
to  be  supplied  with  pastors  chiefly  from  Yale  until 
1829,  when  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Nicholas 
Murray,  a  Princeton  graduate.  In  the  pamphlet  already 
quoted  from  Mr.  Reynolds  says  :  "  In  the  month  of  June 
this  year  (1829),  Mr.  Murray  had  accepted  an  appointment  of 
a  mission  from  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the  General  Assembly 
to  the  borough  of  Wilkes- Barre  for  two  months.  During 
this  engagement  he  became  acquainted  with  the  people  and 
the  field  of  labor,  and  when  he  received  the  call  of  the 
churches  he  took  time  to  deliberate.  After  having  decided 
to  accept  the  call,  he  prescribed  certain  conditions,  one  of 
which  was  that  the  church  at  Wilkes-Baire  become  Presby- 
terian before  his  ordination.  Then  he  was  duly  ordained 
and  installed  pastor  at  Wikes-Barre  and  Kingston,  Nov.  4 
1829.  The  call  had  been  given  him  in  August,  1829.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  church  and  congregation  held  September  8, 
1829,  the  change  in  the  form  of  church  government  was 
made  in  accordance  with  the  condition  stated." 


So  the  coming  of  Nicholas  Murray  to  Wilkes-Barre  was 
the  beginning  of  important  changes  in  the  First  Presbyter- 
ian Church  of  Wilkes-Barre.  Prior  to  1829  from  1770  it 
had  been  practically  Congregational,  being  controlled  by 
Yale.  Since  1829  it  has  been  really  Presbyterian,  being 
controlled  by  Princeton.  At  the  advice  of  Mr.  Murray  the 
congregation  sold  its  interest  in  the  old  church  (Ship  Zion) 
and  erected  a  commodious  meeting  house  on  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  the  Osterhout  Free  Library  on  Franklin  Street. 
Old  "Ship  Zion"  was  built  in  1803.    Previous  to  this  the  log 


igO  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

court  house  on  the  public  square  had  been  used  for  years- 
A  house  of  worship  had  been  built  in  the  village 
soon  after  its  settlement,  but  it  was  destroyed  in  1778. 
The  Kingston  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  1819 
as  a  Congregational  church.  In  1823  it  became  Presbyter- 
ian in  government.     (Hist.  Luzerne  Co.,  p.  429) 

Mr.  Murray  was  a  great  and  good  man  (See  Reynolds' 
pampliletsj.  There  is  another  important  fact  in  Dr.  Mur- 
ray's history  that  deserves  special  notice,  viz.,  his  marriage 
relationship.  In  January,  1830,  Mr.  Murray  married  Miss 
Eliza  Rhees,  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Morgan  John  Rheesand 
Mrs.  Ann  Loxley  Rhees.  Mr.  Rhees  was  the  most  noted 
Welsh  Baptist  minister  of  the  eighteenth  century,  he  died 
at  Somerset,  Pa.,  Dec.  7,  1804.  Mrs.  Rhees  was  a  native  of 
Philadelphia,  a  daughter  of  Major  Benjamin  Loxley,  and 
one  of  the  most  noted  members  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Philadelphia.  She  died  there  April  11,  1849.  The  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Wilkes-barre  have  no  idea  of  the 
amount  of  their  debt  to  the  Welsh  American  Baptists  for 
this  noble  woman.  Mr.  Murray  remained  here  four  years, 
and  was  very  successful  when  he  left  for  Elizabeth,  N.J., 
where  he  died  Feb.  4,  1861. 


The  Methodist  Episcopal  Deno.mination. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Denomination  was  established 
in  America  as  an  independent  body,  i.e.,  independent  of  Eng- 
land, in  1784.  On  Friday,  Dec.  24,  1784,  the  preachers 
assembled  in  Baltimore  in  what  has  since  been  known  as 
the  Christmas  Conference.  Dr.  Coke  presided  and,  on 
taking  the  chair,  presented  a  letter  from  Mr.  Wesley  recom- 
mending the  organization  with  Thomas  Coke  and  Francis 
Asbury  as  superintendents.  Asbury  would  not  accept  the 
responsibility  unless  also  elected  by  a  vote  of  his  brethren 
in  the  conference.  Coke  and  Asbury  were  unanimously 
elected  superintendents.  (See  Schaff-Herzog  Cyc.)  In  four 
years  from  the  above  date  Methodism  began  in  the  Wyo- 
ming Valley — in  1788.  The  commencement  of  Methodism 
in  Wyoming  was  not  the  fruit  of  missionary  labor,  or  of  the 
regular  preaching  of  an  authorized  ministry,  but  of  the 
efforts  of  a  mere  layman,  and  he  a  humble  mechanic. 


REMINISCENXES — AMERICA.  IQI 

Anaing  Owen  came  to  Wyoming  from  New  England 
with  the  daring  spirits  who  emigrated  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was  one  of  the  hand- 
ful of  courageous  men  who  were  defeated  and  scattered  by 
an  overwhelming  force  under  the  command  of  John  Butler. 
In  the  battle  he  was  by  the  side  of  his  brother-in-law,  Ben- 
jamin Carpenter.  He  stood  the  fire  of  the  enemy  and 
answered  it,  shot  after  shot,  in  such  quick  succession  that 
the  barrel  of  his  gun  became  burning  hot.  "  My  gun  is  so 
hot  that  I  cannot  hold  it,"  exclaimed  the  brave  patriot. 
"  Do  the  best  you  can,  then,"  was  the  reply  of  his  friend. 
A  shot  or  two  more  and  the  day  was  lost.  Owen  and 
Carpenter  fled  to  the  river  and  secreted  themselves  under 
the  branches  of  a  large  grape  vine  which  hung  from  the 
branches  of  a  tree  and  lay  in  the  water.  Roger  Sear),  a  lad, 
followed  them,  and  the  three  lay  in  safety  until  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night  enabled  them  to  gain  the  fort.  They  were 
a  portion  of  the  small  number  who  escaped  with  their  lives 
from  the  bloody  encounter  without  swimming  the  river. 
The  place  of  their  concealment  w^as  near  the  mouth  of 
Shoemaker's  Creek.  This  marvelous  escape  resulted  in  his 
conversion.  He  prayed  as  he  ran  and  wlien  he  lay  in  the 
water  his  every  breath  was  occupied  with  the  silent  but 
earnest  prayer,  "God  have  mercy  on  my  st.)ul."  There  and 
then  he  gave  his  heart  to  God  and  vowed  to  be  His  forever. 
He  was  spared  and  did  not  as  thousands  do  forget  the  vows 
he  made  in  the  hour  of  distress. 


He  returned  to  the  East  with  the  fugitives,  but  was  a 
changed  man.  In  this  condition  he  became  acquainted 
with  the  Methodists  and  united  with  them.  Some  time 
after  this  he  returned  to  Wyoming  and  settled  between 
Kingston  and  Forty  Fort,  at  the  point  where  the  highway 
crosses  Toby's  Creek.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He 
appointed  prayer  meetings  in  his  house.  He  held  meetings 
in  the  neighbourhood.  A  revival  broke  out  at  Ross  Hill, 
about  a  mile  from  his  residence,  and  as  most  of  the  mem- 
bers resided  at  this  point,  it  was  decided  that  this  should 
be  the  center  of  operation,  and  hence  the  first  class  was 
organized  here  1788.  The  class  consisted  of  Anning  Owen 
and  wife,  Abram  Adams,  Stephen  Baker  and  wife,  Mrs. 
Wooley  and  Nancy  W^ooley.  Subsequently  came  in  Mrs. 
Ruth  Pierce,  Alice  and  Hannah  Pierce,  Samuel  Carver  and 
his  father,  Joseph  Brown,  Captain  Ebenezer  Parish  and  wife. 


ig2  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

and  Darius  Williams  and  wife.  A  Mrs.  Deborah  Bedford, 
who  was  one  of  the  most  noted  Methodists  of  Wyoming, 
says  that  she  joined  the  class  at  Ross  Hill  in  1788  in  the 
fall,  and  she  thinks  Mr.  Owen  commenced  meetings  and 
formed  the  class  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year. 

Mr.  Owen  had  as  co-worker  with  him  Benjamin  Carpen- 
ter, Esq.  Nathaniel  B.  Mills  had  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  Methodist  itinerant  who  found  his  way  over  the  moun- 
tains into  Wyoming.  This  was  in  1789.  Bishop  Asbury 
made  his  first  visit  to  the  Wyoming  Valley  in  1793.  Wed- 
nesday, July  3,  he  preached  at  the  home  of  Captain  Parish 
on  Ross  Hill.  Saturday,  July  6,  and  Sunday,  July  7,  he 
preached  in  the  court  house  in  Wilkes-Barre.  This  occurred 
during  Collert's  pastorate.  (See  Early  Methodism,  by 
George  Peck,  D.D  .  published  in  1866.).  Thus  from  the 
prayer  meetings  in  Owen's  home  and  the  Ross  Hill  class 
meeting  near  the  public  school  house  of  Edwardsville  now- 
have  developed  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Wyoming 
Valley. 


The  Episcopal  Church. 

In  the  History  of  Luzerne  Co.  (p.  431)  we  are  informed  that 
the  Rev.  Bernard  Page  of  the  Church  of  England,  ordained 
by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  for  "  Wyoming  parish,"  Penn- 
sylvania, August  24,  1772,  was  the  first  Protestant  Episco- 
pal minister  to  officiate  in  this  section.  Owing  to  the  great 
political  disturbance  of  that  date,  Mr.  Page  did  not  remain 
long  in  the  valley  but  retired  to  \^irginia.  No  other  minis- 
ter of  the  church  is  known  to  have  visited  these  parts  until 
18 14,  when  that  "Apostle  of  the  Northwest,"  Rt.  Rev. 
Jackson  Kemper,  D.D..  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
missions  in  the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  and  assistant  to 
Bishop  W'hite,  held  services  in  old  Wilkes-Barre  Academy 
and  stirred  up  the  church-people  of  the  village  of  Wilkes- 
Barre  Academy  and  stirred  up  the  church-people  of  the 
village  of  Wilkes- Barres.  No  definite  steps  were  taken  to 
organize  a  parish  until  Sept.  19,  1817,  when  the  church 
people  met  together  and  elected  the  first  vestry  and  applied 


REMIMISCENCES — AMERICA.  I95 

for  a  eharter,  which  was  granted  Oct.  7,  18 17,  and  engaged 
the  services  of  Rev.  Richard  Sharpe  Mason. 

So,  since  the  year  1814,  the  Episcopalians  have  taken 
part  in  the  religious  work  in  this  valley.  Others  might  be 
named,  such  as  the  Lutherans  (Reformed),  Roman  Catholics,, 
etc.,  but  time  and  space  will  not  permit  me  to  trace  their 
history.  There  are  a  great  many  noble  characters  among 
the  different  bodies  whose  names  we  should  have  liked  to 
have  noticed  had  we  the  time 

In  glancing  at  some  of  the  very  earliest  pioneers  of  re- 
ligious work  in  this  valley,  we  find  that  they  were  not  noted 
for  learning,  eloquence,  etc.,  but  they  were  noted  for  some- 
thing infinitely  better,  viz..  spiritual  poiver,  which  so  many 
persons  lack  to-day.  The  late  Dr.  Gordon  of  Boston  used 
to  say  that  as  you  passed  along  Washington  Street  of  that 
city  or  Broadway,  New  York,  you  might  see  stores  with  the 
card  in  the  window,  "To  rent  with  or  without  power,"  and 
any  one  could  rent  the  store,  and  by  paying  something 
extra  could  have  power  furnished  from  the  engine  in  the 
rear.  Dr.  Gordon  thought  it  would  be  a  good  thing  to  ask 
men  and  women  when  the}^  joined  the  church  now  if  they 
w^anted  to  be  a  member  on  the  "with  power"  or  "  without 
power"  basis,  and  if  the  latter  to  tell  them  there  were  no 
vacancies  for  that  kind  in  the  church — it  already  had  too 
many  members  "without  power"  (Moody).  But  it  is  very 
evident  that  the  pioneer  Christians  of  this  valley  had  ac- 
cepted Christ  on  the  tvith  power  basis,  hence  they  were  en- 
abled to  overcome  the  great  difficulties  that  were  in  their 
way,  and  may  the  seed  sown  by  them  continue  to  grow  and 
multiply  until  "the  knowledge  of  God  shall  cover  the  earth 
as  the  waters  cover  the  sea." 

Note — The  above  paper  was  read  before  the  Wilks-Barre  Cleric  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  March  1906,  and  published  at 
their  request. 

J.T.G. 


-«-l*- 


CHRIST    IN     HEBREWS. 


Whoever  wrote  this  epistle,  whether  Paul  or  ApoUos,  or 
some  one  else,  it  is  evident  that  there  is  great  resemblance 
between  it  and  some  of  the  Pauline  epistles,  especially  those 
to  the  CoUossians  and  Phillipians,  in  their  references  to  the 
-doctrine  of  Christ ;  this  epistle  is  divided  into  three  sections 
with  their  practical  applications.  In  the  first  section  we 
have  Christ  contrasted  with  the  angels,  in  the  second  Christ 
and  Moses,  in  the  third  Jesus  and  the  High  Priest,  so  we  see 
that  the  chief  subject  of  the  entire  epistle  is  Christ  in  the 
superiority  of  his  mediatorial  or  official  character,  hence  we 
are  justified  in  giving  prominence  to  the  doctrine  of  Christ 
as  set  forth  in  this  epistle.  The  chief  aim  of  the  epistle 
"  was  to  prevent  the  Jewish  Christians  from  apostatizing 
under  the  stress  of  persecution  by  convincing  them  of  the 
superiority  of  Christianity."  This  end  he  achieves  by  a 
comparison  between  Christianity  and  Judaism  under  the 
double  aspect  of  (i)  the  Mediator  between  God  and  man,  by 
whom  they  were  respectively  represented,  and  (2)  the  nature 
of  the  blessings  which  they  were  calculated  to  impart. 
(Early  Days  of  Christianity,  page  222.)  We  shall  look  at 
Christ  as  set  forth  in  this  epistle  : 

I.  In  the  nature  and  extent  of  his  official  charac- 
ter. He  is  set  forth  in  this  epistle  in  his  threefold  offices  as 
Prophet,  Priest,  and  King.  "  God  who  at  sundry  times  and 
in  divers  manners  spake  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers  by  the 
prophets,  hath  in  these  last  days  spoken  unto  us  by  his  Son." 
Here  we  have  his  prophetic  office.  "  Now  of  the  things 
which  we   have   spoken,  this   is   the   sum,  we  have   such  a 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I95 

High  Priest,  who  is  set  on  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of 
the  majesty  in  the  heavens."  Here  we  have  his  priestly 
office.'  "  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever,  a  sceptre 
of  righteousness  is  the  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom."  Thus  we 
have  the  mediatorial  offices  of  the  Christian  systein  in  their 
unity  and  distinctiveness  in  Jesus  Christ  as  the  mediator  of 
the  New  Covenant.  In  this  delineation  of  Christ  the  author 
of  this  epistle  shows  his  familiarity  \\ith  the  types  of  former 
dispensations.  The  principle  of  these  offices  was  seen  in  the 
Patriarchial  dispensation,  the  head  of  the  family  was  a  kind 
of  a  prophet,  priest,  and  king.  In  the  Mosaic  dispens;ition 
these  offices  became  more  visible  and  positive.  Moses  be- 
came the  nearest  of  all  to  fulfill  these  three  offices  in  one 
person  ;  the  prophetic  was  his  special  office,  but  he  fulfilled 
the  other  two  occasionally,  for  he  sacrificed  at  Mount  Sinai, 
and  it  is  said  that  he  was  king  in  Israel  or  in  Jeshurn  (Deut. 
33.  5.)  Aaron  was  a  prophet  and  a  priest,  and  David  was 
a  prophet  and  a  king.  After  the  Mosaic  dispensation  was 
fully  established  the  three  offices  were  never  administered 
by  the  same  person  the  officers  of  the  old  dispensation 
were  only  typical,  yet  the  three  even  typically  were 
too  many  for  one  man.  Jesus  Christ  fulfilled  the  three 
offices  himself  and  that  not  typically  but  realh.  (O.Davies) 
Such  is  the  view  given  by  the  author  of  this  epistle  of  the 
nature  and  extent  of  his  official  character. 

II.  The  superiority  of  his  official  character.  This  as 
we  have  intimated  before  is  the  chief  aim  of  the  epistle. 
He  is  superior  :  (i)  /Is  a  Prophet.  This  is  implied  in  the 
very  first  verses  of  the  epistle.  "  God  who  at  sundry  times, 
and  in  divers  manners  spake  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers  by 
the  prophets,  hath  in  these  last  days  spoken  unto  us  by  his 
Son."  Here  we  see  the  contrast  between  the  prophets  of 
the  old  and  the  Son  as  the  prophet  of  the  New  Covenant. 
"  Though  knowing  the  secret  of  the  Lord,  yet  the  prophets 
stood  related  to  him  only  as  servants,  as  sustaining  an  office, 
the  Son  who  has  spoken  stands  in  the  closest  relation  of 
nature  to  God."  (Davidson).  There  is  here  also  the  idea  of 
completeness  and  finality.  Under  the  old  it  was  incomplete. 
In  the  Son  we  have  a  complete  revelation.  "  Though  God 
gave  the  message  to  the  other  prophets,  and  though  they 
were  thus  above  themselves  in  that  which  they  delivered, 
yet  inasmuch  as  it  was  designed  by  Ciod  from  the  beginning 
to  send  the  Heir  into  the  world  to  teach  man  it  was  natural 
for  him  to  keep  the  best  of  his  truths  until  his  advent. 


196  REMINISCEN'CES — AMERICA. 

Christ  also  appeared  when  the  world  was  better  prepared 
to  receive  the  most  extensive  and  final  revelation  of  the 
mind  of  God.  The  Bible  was  given  on  the  principle  of  pro- 
gress and  development,  and  Christ  came  to  lay  the  chief 
•corner  stone  of  the  temple  of  truth  in  its  place.  The  other 
prophets  were  frequently  ignorant  of  the  real  meaning  of 
the  message  they  had,  but  the  message  of  Christ,  notwith- 
standing its  glory,  was  at  all  times  less  than  himself.  "All 
the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge  dwelt  in  him,"  and 
his  teachings  were  confined  only  by  the  will  of  God.  As 
God  Jesus  Christ  was  omniscient,  but  as  a  Prophet  he  con- 
fined his  teachings  to  the  words  given  unto  him  by  his 
Father.  The  completeness  of  his  teachings  is  seen 
in  his  revelations  of  God,  himself,  the  one  spirit, 
the  church,  Satan,  man  and  his  destiny,  etc.  "  There- 
fore we  ought  to  give  the  more  earnest  heed  to  the  things 
that  were  heard  lest  haply  we  drift  away  from  them.  For 
if  the  words  spoken  through  angels  proved  steadfast,  and 
every  transgression  and  disobedience  received  a  just  recom- 
pense of  reward,  how  shall  we  escape  if  we  neglect  so  great 
a  salvation  ?  Which  having  at  the  first  been  spoken  through 
the  Lord."  (R.V.)  (2)  As  a  Priest.  The  superiority  of  his 
priesthood  is  discussed  very  extensively  in  this  epistle, 
doubtless  more  prominency  is  given  to  this  office  than  to 
either  of  tlie  others.  The  superiority  of  his  priesthood  is 
seen  : 

(a)  In  the  dignity  of  his  person.  There  is  a  divine  dignity 
belonging  to  Christ.  The  priests  under  the  law  were  sinful 
men,  none  of  them  could  claim  equality  even  with  the 
angels.  But  Christ  was  higher  than  the  angels.  "  Being 
so  much  better  than  the  angels  as  he  hath  by  inheritance 
obtained  a  more  excellent  name  than  they."  Being  exalted 
so  much  higher  than  the  angels  as  much  as  the  name  being 
inherited  is  more  excellent  than  theirs.  (J.  Williams.) 
Not  only  is  he  said  to  be  higher  than  the  angels,  but  it  is 
positively  said  that  he  is  God,  "  But  unto  the  Son  he  saith, 
thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever."  .A.s  God  he  is  said 
to  be  immutable,  and  the  creator  and  sustainer  of  the 
world,     (i.   10-12.) 

(c)  In  his  ordination.  The  Jewish  priest  received  his 
office  by  family  succession  independent  of  moral  and  spirit- 
ual considerations ;  but  Christ  was  made  a  Priest,  "  not 
after  the  law  of  carnal  commandment,  but  after  the  power 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I97 

of  endless  life."  Christ  belonged  to  the  tribe  of  Judah,  the 
royal  tribe,  not  the  tribe  of  Levi  which  was  the  priestly 
tribe,  hence  he  could  not  have  been  made  a  Priest  by  suc- 
cession or  "  after  the  law  of  a  carnal  commandment;"  he 
was  made  a  Priest  on  the  ground  of  his  dignity,  his  personal 
value,  and  perfect  qualification  to  fulfill  the  high  office,  and 
meet  all  its  moral  and  spiritual  purposes  forever.  "And  in- 
asmuch as  not  without  an  oath,  he  was  made  Priest,  (for 
those  priests  were  made  without  an  oath,  but  this  with  an 
oath  by  him  who  said  unto  him,  the  Lord  sware  and  will 
not  repent,  thou  art  a  Priest  forever  after  the  order  of  Mel- 
chisedec.  (7.  21.)  The  oath  of  God  sets  forth  the  eternal 
stability  of  the  appointment  of  Christ  to  the  Priesthood. 

(c)  In  the  order  and  perpetuity  of  his  priesthood.  The 
priests  of  the  Mosaic  dispensation  belonged  to  the  Aaronic 
order,  but  the  Priest  of  the  New  Testament  belongs  to  the 
order  of  Melchisedec.  The  Aaronic  priesthood  was  designed 
to  be  a  type,  but  on  account  of  the  greatness  of  that  which  was 
to  be  typified  by  it,  it  was  defective  in  two  things:  (i)  the 
priestly  office  of  the  old  testament  was  filled  by  a  succession  of 
mortal  men.  It  was  transferred  from  one  generation  to  another. 
"And  Moses  stripped  Aaron  of  his  garments  and  put  them 
upon  Eleazar  his  son,  and  Aaron  died  there  in  the  top  of  the 
mountain."  (Num.  20,  28.)  "And  Eleazar  the  son  died,  and 
they  buried  him  in  a  hill  that  pertained  to  Phinehas  his  son." 
(Josh.  24.  33  )  Thus  ends  the  history  of  all  the  Jewish  priests). 
.(2)  The  Aaronic  priests  were  destitute  of  royal  character. 
The  two  offices  were  kept  separate  in  Israel,  the  priesthood  in 
Levi,  and  the  sceptre  in  Judah,  The  priest  was  not  allowed 
to  take  the  sceptre,  neither  could  the  king  take  the  censer. 
When  Uzziah  presumed  to  burn  incense,  he  was  stricken  with 
leprosy  in  his  forehead  and  remained  so  until  the  day  ot  his 
death.  (2  Chron.  26.  16,  20.)  Melchizedec  is  brought  to  view 
suddenly  as  a  royal  priest  with  the  significant  names  of  "  king 
of  righteousness,"  "  king  of  peace."  (Gen.  14.  18,  20),  and 
suddenly  again  he  is  taken  out  of  sight.  Whence  he  came  and 
whither  he  went  we  know  not.  As  a  private  man  doubtless  he 
has  an  unwritten  history  like  all  others,  but  as  a  priest  he  re- 
mains constantly  in  our  view,  as  "  without  father,  without 
mother,  having  neither  beginning  of  days  nor  end  of  life,"  and 
without  a  successor ;  hence  he  was  made  a  proper  type  of  the 
eternal  priesthood  of  the  Son  of  God.  (Heb.  7.  3.)  The  pro- 
phecy was,  "  Thou  art  a  Priest  forever  after  the  order  of  Mel- 
chisedec." (Ps.  no.  4.)  As  Melchisedec  stood  alone  as  a 
priest,  without  either  a  predecessor  or  successor,  and  also  a 

G 


igS  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

priest  and  a  king,  he  was  a  more  perfect  type  of  Christ  than 
Aaron,  hence  his  order  was  higher  than  that  of  Aaron.  This 
is  the  argument  of  the  seventh  chapter  of  this  epistle,  read  it. 
Hence  the  uselessness  of  saying  that  Christ  was  baptized 
into  the  priesthood. 

(d)  In  the  nature,  extent,  and  efficacy  of  his  work.  The 
sacrifices  of  the  old  dispensation  were  ineffectual  in  satisfying 
God,  and  in  taking  away  sin.  "  For  the  law  having  a  shadow 
of  good  things  to  come,  and  not  the  very  image  of  the  things, 
can  never  with  those  sacrifices  which  they  offered  year  by  year, 
continually  make  the  comers  thereunto  perfect.  For  then 
would  they  not  have  ceased  to  be  offered  ?  because  that  the  wor- 
shippers once  purged  should  have  had  no  more  conscience  of 
sins.  But  in  those  sacrifices  there  is  a  remembrance  again 
made  of  sins  every  year.  For  it  is  not  possible  that  the  blood 
of  bulls  and  of  goats  should  take  away  sins."  (Heb.  lo.  1-4.) 
But  the  priestly  work  of  Christ  was  effectual  and  satisfactory. 
He  was  in  himself  both  the  sacrifice  and  the  priest,  and  his 
sacrifice  perfectly  satisfied  divine  justice.  "  But  this  man  after 
he  had  offered  one  sacrifice  for  sins  for  ever  sat  down  on  the 
right  hand  of  God.  For  by  one  offering  he  hath  perfected  for 
ever  them  that  are  sanctified."  (T.  Johns,  Llanelly.)  "  By 
his  own  blood  he  entered  in  once  into  the  holy  place  having 
obtained  eternal  redemption  for  us." 

An  eminent  author  has  said  that  "  everything  great  is  one. 
One  soul,  one  Bible,  one  salvation,  one  judgment  to  come,  one 
God,  one  Mediator  also,  to  suffer  and  die  once  on  Calvary  has 
sufficed  for  ever." 

"  There  is  one  God,"  says  the  apostle,  and  only  one.  This 
is  easily  seen.  There  can  be  but  one  Infinite,  as  one  God  fills 
everywhere,  there  can  be  no  place  for  another  ;  and  as  one 
God  fills  infinity  so  Christ's  one  death  has  filled  the  mind  of 
the  Godhead.  It  is  therefore  folly  to  add  to  it.  God  cannot 
accept  an  additional  sacrifice.  Though  the  sun  be  great  in 
comparison  with  the  earth,  yet  there  is  room  enough  in  space 
for  innumerable  more  suns,  but  there  is  no  room  for  another 
atonement  in  the  whole  universe.  A  deed  was  committed  one 
afternoon  on  our  earth,  greater  than  all  the  creation,  a  deed  so 
great  that  it  is  impossible  even  to  add  to  it.  He  "  entered  once 
into  the  holy  place."  (Edwards,  Bala  )  Hence  we  say  that  in 
every  aspect  of  his  priesthood  he  is  superior  to  the  old  dis- 
pensation. 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  I99 

(3)  As  a  king.     He  is  superior. 

(a)  In  his  position.  At  the  right  hand  of  God  ;  the  highest 
honours.  "  There  is  not  a  place  in  all  heaven  higher  than 
where  Jesus  Christ  is  to-daj'  in  our  nature  "  He  is  as  high  as 
God  himself  could  raise  him.  He  is  "  far  above  all  principa- 
lity and  power  and  might  and  dommion  and  every  name  that 
is  named  not  only  in  this  world,  but  also  in  that  which 
is  to  come."  (c)  In  the  extent  of  his  authority.  All  power. 
(See  Heb.  i  :  8  ;  3  :  i,  6).  (d)  In  the  perfection  of  his  victory. 
All  his  enemies  shall  be  made  his  footstool,  (e)  In  the  inde- 
structableness  of  his  kingdom.  It  is  a  kingdom  that  cannot 
be  shaken. 

III.    In    the    PERFECTION      OF      HIS      QUALIFICATIONS     TO     BE 

THE  Saviour  of  the  world.  After  having  shown  the  ex- 
tent and  superiority  of  Christ's  official  position  as  the  Medi- 
ator of  the  New  Covenant,  the  author  says,  "  Wherefore  he  is 
able  to  save  to  the  uttermost  all  that  come  to  God  through 
him."  The  reason  of  this  wonderful  saving  power  of  Christ 
is  found  in  the  nature  and  character  of  his  official  position. 
"  These  threefold  offices  were  essential  to  the  salvation  of  man. 
He  needed  proper  instructions  respecting  God  and  himself; 
he  needed  a  proper  atonement  as  the  basis  of  acceptance  with 
God,  and  he  needed  proper  laws  to  govern  him,  and  see  how 
all  these  requirements  are  met  in  Christ  our  Saviour. 

From  this  subject  we  wish  to  draw  two  practical  inferences  : 

I.  See  how  Christ  should  be  preached.  He  should  be 
preached  in  his  enlightening,  atoning  and  ruling  character. 
"  We  shall  find  that  such  broad,  uncontroversial  proclamation 
of  Christ  really  meets  the  wants  which  it  seems  to  ignore  and 
contradict.  We  need  not  be  so  very  solicitous  about  shaping 
our  message  so  as  to  fit  the  needs  of  the  times.  Let  us  preach 
it  plainly  and  fully  and  be  sure  that  it  will  shape  itself  accord- 
ing to  men's  needs.  Such  preaching  is  suitable  to  all  ages  and 
classes  because  it  speaks  to  that  which  is  common  to  them  all, 
and  deepest  in  each  the  fact  of  sin  and  the  need  of  redemption. 

.  .  .  If  men  seek  for  wisdom,  or  for  a  sign,  our  task  is  U> 
evoke  a  deeper  cry  than  these,  the  cry  of  the  heart  that 
mourns  over  sin  and  longs  for  a  deliverer.  I  i  dig  a  well 
deeper  than  my  neighbour's,  his  will  run  dry.  U  we 
can  only  tap  that  profounder  void  in  a  man's  soul  which  lies 
far  below  the  cravings  of  the  understanding  and  the  sense  the 
sun  face  streams  of  interest  that  filled  the  upper  will  flow  down 


200  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

to  the  deeper,  and  instead  of  the  demand,  give  me  knowledge, 
give  me  signs,  we  shall  hear  the  welcome  question — "  Sirs, 
what  must  I  do  to  be  saved?" 

The  surest  way  to  evoke  that  sense  of  want  is  by  showing 
men  in  whom  it  has  been  met,  and  once  evoked  none  but 
himself  can  satisfy  it.  (Maclaren.)  It  was  thus  the  author  oi 
the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews  met  the  needs  and  scepticisms  of 
his  age. 

2.  How  Christ  must  be  received.  How  did  the  author  of 
this  epistle  want  the  Jews  to  receive  him  ?  In  all  his  offices. 
Some  reject  him  wholly,  others  partially  ;  as  a  prophet  they 
reject  his  word  ;  as  a  priest  they  reject  his  atonement ;  as  a  king 
they  reject  his  laws.  Others  receive  him  in  some  of  his  offices, 
but  reject  the  others.  Some  are  willing  to  receive  him  as  a 
prophet,  but  reject  his  priestly  work  as  others  are  willing  to  re- 
ceive his  priestly  work,  but  they  reject  his  kingly  and  make 
laws  to  themselves. 

"He  is  our  priest  that  He  may  be  our  King.  Many 
fancy  that  they  are  willing  that  He  alone  should  save  them, 
-who  are  not  willing  that  He  should  rule  them.  In  creed  they 
are  ready  to  trust  Him  as  their  priest,  but  in  practice  they  are 
not  ready  to  serve  Him  as  their  King.  They  make  a  selection 
from  His  laws  choosing  some  and  rejecting  others,  or  while 
they  hold  in  a  general  way  His  right  to  their  allegiance,  they 
seem  to  pay  tribute  in  turn  to  many  masters,  such  as  Fashion 
or  Public  Opinion."  But  Christ  must  be  enthroned  in  the 
heart,  mind,  and  life  of  the  Christian.  We  owe  to  his  crown- 
right  a  respect  sacred  and  entire,  as  that  which  fired  the  old 
spiritual  hero  of  Scotland  to  declare  his  readiness  to  give  up 
life  rather  than  allow  the  right  of  King  James  to  legislate  within 
the  empire  of  King  Jesus. 

"  For  know,  nor  of  the  terms  complain 
Where  Jesus  comes.  He  comes  to  reign  ; 
To  reign  with  universal  sway, 
Even  thoughts  must  die  that  disobey." 

(Stanford's  "Symbols  of  Jesus,"  pp.  27,  28.) 

What  can  be  the  meaning  of  the  following  passages  if  not 
this.     (Read  Heb.  10  :  26-31.) 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  201 

"  For  if  we  sin  wilfully,  after  that  we  have  received  the 
kn6wledge  of  the  truth,  there  remaineth  no  more  sacrifice  for 
sin,  but  a  certain  fearful  looking  for  of  judgment  and  fiery  in- 
dignation which  shall  devour  the  adversaries.  He  that  despised 
Moses'  law  died  without  mercy  under  two  or  three  witnesses. 
Of  how  much  sorer  punishment,  suppose  ye,  shall  be  thouo-ht 
worthy,  who  hath  trodden  under  foot  the  Son  of  God,  and  hath 
counted  the  blood  of  the  covenant,  wherewith  he  was  sancti- 
fied, an  unholy  thing,  and  hath  done  despite  unto  the  Spirit  of 
grace  ?" 

Again  :  "  Wherefore  we  receiving  a  kingdom  which  cannot 
be  shaken,  let  us  have  grace,  whereby  we  may  serve  God  ac- 
ceptably, with  reverence  and  godly  fear."  (12.  28.)  How  can 
the  kingdom  be  received  without  the  king  ? 

No,  whether  in  the  pulpit  or  in  the  pew,  Christ  must  bfr 
preached  and  received  in  all  his  offices,  hence  let  us  run  the 
race,  "looking  unto  Jesus,"  as  the  only  leader,  perfector,  exem- 
plar of  the  Christian  system. 

I  am  indebted  tor  many  of  the  ideas  of  this  paper  to  Revs. 
J.  P.  Davies, Tredegar,  Davidson  on  Hebrews,  O.  Davies,D.D., 
and  others. 

The  above  paper  was  read  at  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Ministers^ 
Conference  in  1886,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Baptist  Ministers'  Union 
at  Huntingdon  in  October  that  year. 


:y(5XKeK^ 


KIND  WORDS  FROM  FRIENDS. 


In  addition  to  my  pastoral  work  I  have  written  for  years 
to  different  periodicals  (Welsh  and  English),  in  America  and 
Wales.  I  have  also  published  a  few  pamphlets  and  books, 
viz. — 

"  The  Early  Welsh  Baptists  of  Wilks-Barre." 

"  Brief  Biographical  Sketches  of  Fifty-one  Welsh  Baptist 
Ministers  of  Pennsylvania." 

"  Baptist  Missionaries  in  their  relation  to  the  transla- 
tion of  the  scriptures." 

"  The  Origin  and  Development  of  Civil  and  Religious 
Freedom  in  America." 

"  The  Baptists  of  Edwardsdale." 

"  Morgan  John  Rhys." 

I  have  published  two  editions  of  "  Morgan  John  Rhys,"  the 
first  in  Lansford,  Pennsylvania  in  1899,  and  the  second  revised 
and  very  much  enlarged  in  Wales  in  1910. 

I  have  received  scores  of  letters  from  some  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished historians   of  Wales  commending    the  work   very 


:203  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

highly.also  commendatory  editorials  have  appeared  in  the 
leading  periodicals  of  the  denomination  which  I  would  have 
been  glad  to  republish  if  space  permitted,  but  I  will  insert  a 
few  letters.  The  first  is  from  Prof.  Rush  Rhees,  D.D., 
LL.D.,  President  Rochester  University,  New  York  State. 
Dr.  Rhees  is  a  great  grandson  of  "  Morgan  John  Rhys  :" — 

The  University  of  Rochester, 

Office  of  the  President, 

Rochester,  N.Y. 

April  30,  1910. 
Rev.  John  T.  Griffith, 
Maerdy, 

Glamorganshire, 

South  Wales. 
My  dear  Friend, 

I  send  to  you  herewith  an  International  money 
order  for  five  shillings  and  two  pence  in  payment  for  the  copy 
of  your  book  which  I  received  recently  by  mail.  I  am  pleased 
to  see  the  book  and  appreciate  the  mterest  which  you  have 
taken  in  my  forebears. 

Very  truly  yours, 

RUSH  RHEES. 


The  following  is  from  Rev.  W.  Edwards,  D.D.,  Principal  of 
South  Wales  Baptist  College,  South  Wales. 

July  i6th,  1911. 

"  I  have  read  with  great   delight   and  sincere  appreciation 
Dr.  J.  T.   Griffith's  excellent   volume  on    the   great   pioneer 


204  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Morgan  John  Rhys.  It  is  a  standard  work  that  will  remain  as 
the  great  authority  on  the  life  and  work  of  one  of  the  bravest 
and  ablest  sons  of  Wales.  It  is  the  fruit  of  patient  and  most 
careful  research,  of  years  of  earnest  labour  and  of  great  love 
and  admiration  for  the  great  hero  whose  achievements  it  so 
fully  and  accurably  records. 

Not  only  Wales  and  America  have  been  placed  under  a  debt 
of  obligation  to  Dr.  Griffith,  but  the  whole  religious  world.  It 
is  a  story  of  unflinching  courage,  of  unfailing  love  and  liberty 
and  truth,  and  of  marvellous  self-sacrifice  in  the  cause  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  His  pure  religion.  It  is  not  merely  a 
repository  of  facts  but  a  masterly  history  of  the  man  and  his 
times  put  together  in  an  orderly  and  very  attractive  form. 

It  should  be  on  the  shelf  of  every  lover  of  religious  birth  and 
liberty,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  our  thoughtful  young 
people,  that  they  might  know  the  greatness  and  the  goodness 
of  one  of  the  noble  men  who  were  instrumental  in  bringing 
about  the  privileges  and  liberties  into  which  we  have  entered. 

With  kind  regards  and  best  wishes  from  your  rather  af- 
flicted brother. 

W.E. 


Glyn  Villa, 

Treorchy, 

April  9,  1910. 
Dear  Brother, 

Many  thanks  to  you  for  the  volume  on  "  Morgan 
John  Rhys."  I  have  read  it  carefully  and  m  doing  so  have 
had  perfect  satisfaction.     A  history  of  one  of  the  mighty  mea 


REMINISCENCES — AMERICA.  205 

of  the^  Baptists  of  the  days  of  old.  Morgan  John  Rhys  was  an 
excellent  character,  strong,  symmetrical,  daring  and  godly. 
It  would  have  been  a  pity  for  this  keen  seer  to  have  remained 
in  perpetual  forgetfulness,  as  others  of  worthy  noted  men  of 
our  nation.  You  have  done  well  to  resurrect  him.  He  was  a 
man  far  in  advance  of  his  age,  and  strong  enough  to  lead  his 
age  and  country  to  the  Canaan  of  liberty  of  civil  conscience,, 
moral  and  religious. 

It  cost  you  much  in  time,  money,  labour,  travel  and  sweat  to- 
have  the  work  so  complete  and  so  well  finished.  The  only 
compensation  to  you  for  all  will  be  the  satisfaction  that  will  be 
rendered  to  your  conscience  and  heart  for  having  presented 
Morgan  John  Rhys  to  your  nation  and  generation  in  a  manner 
that  no  one  else  was  able  to  do  before  you.  You  were  remar- 
kably successful  iu  gathering  your  materials  on  the  other  side 
of  the  ocean  and  yoa  had  the  marrow  of  all  that  was  interes- 
ting on  this  side.  Had  you  not  done  anything  else  in  your 
generation  but  this  it  was  worth  to  live  for. 

It  is  astonishing  how  much  he  was  able  to  do  in  forty-four 
four  years  in  Wales,  France  and  America.  The  philanthro- 
pist, patriot  and  cosmopolitan  was  found  in  him  in  the  one 
person. 

I  trust  that  the  reading  of  your  excellent  biography  will  be 
a  strong  inspiration  to  young  men. 

Yours  sincerely, 

W.  MORRIS. 
(Rev.  W.  Morris,  D.D.,  Treorchy.). 
Translated  from  the  Welsh. 

Rev.  J.T.  Griffith,  D.D. 


:206  REMINISCENCES — AMERICA. 

Similar  letters  might  have  been  published  from  such  men 
-as — 

Dr.  J.  Spinther  James,  Llandudno. 

Rev.  Pedr  Williams  (Pedr  Hir),  Liverpool. 

Rev.  H.  Evans. 

Rev.  E.  W.  Davies,  Ton,  Pentre. 

Rev  E.  K.  Jones,  Cefn  Mawr. 

Rev.  O.  Davies,  D.D.,  Carnarvon. 

Rev.  D.  W.  Hopkins,  Neath. 

Rev.  D.  Powell,  Liverpool. 

&c.,  &c. 


^Js^K^ 


LINES    BY  A    BARD. 


^Written   for  the  reception  of  Rev.  J.  T.  Griffith, 
D.D.,  at  Edwardsville,  April  14,  1903.) 


We  bid  you  "  Welcome,"  worthy  friend, 

And  pray  for  your  success  ; 
May  no  soul-withering  cares  attend 

To  check  your  usefulness  ; 
We  love  the  man  whose  words  and  deeds 

Will  bear  the  light  of  day, 
Who,  by  his  life  and  teaching,  pleads 

With  men  to  walk  God's  way. 

With  pride,  we  glance  back  to  your  past. 

To  view  the  wealthy  store 
Of  well  done  deeds,  the  deeds  which  last 

When  the  author  is  no  more ; 
The  seed  you've  sown,  the  work  you've  done. 

Amid  so  much  suspense — 
Will,  when  the  record  is  made  known. 

Bring  you  your  recompense. 

You've  written  much,  with  so  much  ease. 

And  much  we  owe  your  pen. 
For  having  placed  "  Morgan  John  Rhees  " 

Before  the  gaze  of  men  ; 
That  man  of  moral  worth  and  zest, 

A  seer  consumed  with  zeal, 
A  man  of  God,  who  did  his  best 

For  the  great  common  weal. 


208 

We  love  our  native  village  home 

Where  first  we  saw  the  light, 
And  "  Pisgah  Pil,"  where'er  we  roam 

Stands  like  a  beacon  bright — 
Enshrined  within  our  hearts,  for  there 

We  heard  how  Jesus  came,. 
And  there,  beneath  the  wave,  we  were. 

Baptized  into  his  name. 

May  he  who  called  both  you  and  me,. 

And  helped  us  thus  along 
Our  varied  ways,  be  ever  nigh 

To  make  and  keep  us  strong  ; 
Clad  in  the  strength  of  Christ  the  Lord 

We'll  do  the  good  we  can, 
We'll  voice  abroad  his  gracious  word 

To  cheer  our  fellow  man. 

'Tis  true  some  struggles  must  be  dared 

In  every  sphere  of  life. 
But  Christ  himself  hath  well  prepared 

And  armed  us  for  the  strife ; 
Then  in  his  service  may  we  live 

Enshrined  within  his  love, 
Assured,  whatever  we  receive 

Is  wisely  planned  above. 

— W.  J.  John, 


Rev.  W.  J.  John,  pastor  of  the  Mead  Street  Bap- 
tist Church,  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  then  now — (1913) 
New  Castle,  Pa. 


MORGAN    JOHN     RHYS, 

Gan   Dr.   JOHN  T.   GRIFFITH. 


Ha  !     Gymru,  fam  y  tannau, 

A  mam  y  meibion  In, 
Wrth  gerdded  llwybrau  serth  eu  dydd 

Yn  gwynnu  Cymru  ddu  : 
Ha  !  Gymru,  fam  y  cedyrn, 

Ddihafal  fam  y  Can  ; 
Trwy  gerdded  llwybrau'r  arwyr  fu 

Tyf  Cymru'n  Gymru  Ian. 

Y  funud  hon  mi  glywaf 

Swn  troed  yn  rhamp  y  byd, 
Mae'n  unig  rhwng  y  miloedd  traed 

A'i  sang  yn  gan  i  gyd ; 
Troed  Morgan  Rhys  yw  honno 

Gerddasai  Gymru  gynt, 
Yn  nydd  y  drycin  ar  ein  Gwlad, 

A'i  lief  yn  beichio'r  gwynt. 

Pel  Proffvvyd  y  Jehofah 

Yn  teithio  llain  ar  lain, 
Yn  dysgu  Cymru  am  y  Nef, 

A'i  Iwybr  oil  yn  ddrain  ; 
Dihafal  fab  i  Gymru, 

Rhoes  iddi'r  Ysgol  Sul, 
Ddysgasa'i  fam  i  rodio'n  hardd 

I  wynfa'r  llwybr  cul. 


2IO 

Fel  proflfwj'd  ca'dd  ei  erlid 

O'i  wlad  garasai'n  fawr, 
A  chais  gyfandir  arall,  pell, 

Ym  mhlygion  cudd  ei  wawr  ; 
Heb  newid  Duw  na  Beibl 

Na  phwrpas  byw  a  bod, 
Fel  angel  mawr  cyhoeddi  fyn 

Fod  lesu  wedi  dod. 

Aeth  arall  fab  o  Gymrii 

I  wlad  machludo'r  dydd, 
Y  doethawr  Grififith  geri'r  ffordd 

Gerddasai  tad  y  ffj'dd  ; 
Rhyw  nawn-ddydd  ar  y  tonnau, 

A'i  ysbryd  ynddo'n  friw, 
Dych'mygai  ar  y  gorwel  pell 

Weld  Morgan  Rhys  yn  fyw. 

I  lain  beddrodau'r  tadau 

Y  cerddodd  ar  ei  hynt, 
Yn  holi'r  beddau  ar  ei  daith, 

Ac  weithiau'r  chwaon  gwynt. 
Pa  le'r  oedd  beddrod  Morgan, 

I  ddeigryn  wlychu'r  fan, 
A  thorri  sgwrs  am  funud  bach 

A  llwch  yr  arvvr  can. 

Ca'dd  afael  ar  y  llecyn, 

A'r  llwch  ga'dd  ffurf  a  llun, 
A  Morgan  Rhys  o  oror  aur 

I'r  corflf  ddaeth  yno'i  hun  ; 
Ym  mraich  ym  mraich  cerddasant 

A  Griffith  fel  yn  swil, 
Rhyw  nerthoedd  anweledig  fyd 

Yn  chwythu  drwy  bob  rhil. 


211 

Bu  flwyddi  'nghwmni'r  arwr, 

O'i  ysbryd  cafodd  ran 
I  wrando  ar  gyfrinion  aur 

Yr  henfyd  yn  y  fan  ; 
Ar  bwyntil  arian  Griffith 

Mae'r  ymgom  gyda  mi, 
A  dynna  stori'r  Uyfr  gwych 

Sy'n  rhad  a  rhwydd  i  ni. 

Abertawe.  Hermas. 

(Rev.  Hermas  Evans,  Manselton,  Swansea, ^ 
Gor.  19,  1913. 


-^ 


ERRATA  — 

Page  58 — Resolution  should  read  "  Eli  S.  Reinhold  "  not  "  Eli  G." 

Page  62— "U.  S.  Beaver,  at  the  Organ"  not  "  M.  S." 

Page   81 — "Dr.   John   A.    Broadus'    Catechism   of   Bible   teaching,"   not 
"  Broadi." 

Under  the  photograph  group  of  the  students  of  Crozer  Seminary.     Lower 
row  should  read  "  H.  H.  Leamy,"  not  "  Learney." 


Jones  &  Sons,  Crown  Printing  Works,  Morriston  &  Clydach. 


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